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Exhibition
International LLC Issues Final Report For WESTPORT, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2002--This
is a final report for the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition
held in Havana, Cuba, from 26-30 September 2002, at the Palacio de
Convenciones de la Habana (Pabexpo), reported Mr. Peter W. Nathan,
president of PWN Exhibicon International LLC (http://www.cubaexhibitions.com),
organizer of the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition, who said,
"This exhibition, while very difficult to organize because of
the extremely short time, was also the most exhilarating event in
my 46-year exhibition industry career." The U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition
was the first and remains the only event of its type to be specifically
authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United
States Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition,
organized in twelve weeks, featured 923 representatives from 288 exhibitors
(companies, trade organizations, and state departments of agriculture)
located in thirty-three states, District of Colombia, and Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico. Four Boeing-727 cargo aircraft delivered
154,000 pounds of cargo (dry, chilled, frozen, livestock). During
a three week period, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of
the United States Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., processed
225 export licenses in conjunction with the U.S. Food & Agribusiness
Exhibition. Continued Mr. Nathan, "I could not have
organized the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition without the very excellent over-the-top assistance
and cooperation from my associates at Bethesda, Maryland-based E.J. Krause & Associates
(marketing and operations); New York, New York-based International
Exhibits Transport (freight forwarding and logistics); New York, New
York- based Einzig Photographers (photographic services); Scottsdale,
Arizona-based Matrix registration Systems (exhibitor and attendee
registrations); and the New York, New York-based U.S.-Cuba trade and
Economic Council (http://www.cubatrade.org), of which PWN Exhibicon
International LLC is a member." Attending the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition:
The Governor of Minnesota, The Honorable Jesse Ventura (I); The Lieutenant
Governor of North Dakota, The Honorable Jack Dalrymple (R); Secretaries/Commissioners
of Agriculture from Georgia, Kentucky, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota,
North Dakota, Virginia; and representatives from the Departments of
Agriculture from Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas. According
to the government of Cuba, approximately 16,000 visitors attended the U.S. Food & Agribusiness
Exhibition. During and immediately following the U.S. Food
& Agribusiness Exhibition, more than seventy companies, located
in at least twenty-three states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
signed contracts and agreements to deliver (on a cash basis) food
products and agricultural products valued at approximately US$92 million,
of which approximately 43% is scheduled for delivery in 2002 and approximately
57% scheduled for delivery from January 2003 through March 2003. Company
representatives continue to discuss additional export opportunities
for 2002 and for 2003. Among the products contracted in conjunction
with the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition which will be exported
to Cuba in 2002 and 2003: Apples, Pears, Onions, Baby Food (cereal,
juices), Barrels, Beans, Bulk and Branded Raisins, Wine, Bourbon,
Candy, Carbonated Beverages, Cattle (beef, dairy, three bulls for breeding),
Chicken Leg Quarters, Chicken Backs, Chicken Necks, Chicken Drumsticks,
Condiments, Assorted Dry Grocery Products, Eggs, Flour, Fresh Ham,
Liver, Frozen Bovine Semen, Gum, Hamburger Patties, Processed Potato
Products, High Protein Food Grade Soybeans, Lumber, Pasta, Newsprint,
Bond Paper, Non-Alcoholic Drink Mix Concentrates, Tofu, Yogurt, Non-Dairy
Creamer, Peas, Pet and Livestock Feeds, Pork Lard, Assorted Private
Label Branded Products, Powdered Milk, Dehydrated Coconut, Corn, Sauces,
Seasonings and Ingredients, Wheat Flour, Wheat, Soups, Instant Cappuccino,
Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Corn, Beef Products, Turkey, Feed Phosphate,
Soybeans, Shortening, Soybeans, Stardri 100 Maltodetrin D.E. 10, Whole
Peeled Tomatoes, Chunk Light Tuna, Soy Sauce, Refined Soy Oil, Crude
Soy Oil, Citric Acid, Milled Rice, Paddy Rice, Edible Beans, Canned
Goods, and Margarine. Decatur, Illinois-based Archer Daniels Midland
Company (2001 revenues approximately US$23 billion), the primary sponsor
of the U.S. Food & Agribusiness Exhibition signed contracts for
the delivery (2002 and 2003) of approximately US$19.05 million in
agricultural products and food products at the U.S. Food & Agribusiness
Exhibition. Cuba currently ranks approximately 46th of 228
countries in terms of agricultural product purchases from United States
companies,based upon a calendar year projection for 2002, compared
to ranking144th in 2001, and ranking 228th in 2000. [ANOTHER WAY TO
SAY THIS IS HOW I DID IN THE FARM GRP TRIP MEMO- Cuba now ranks 46th
.. . . as compared to 2000 when it ranked last . . . . out of 228
countries.] Since December 2001, thirty-four states have
been the source for more than 700,000 metric tons of food products
and agricultural products exported to Cuba under provisions of the
Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSRA) of 2000. Within the U.S. House of Representatives, 81%
of the 435 members represent these thirty-four states and within the
U.S. Senate, 68% of the 100 members represent these thirty-four states.
The thirty-four states represent 423 votes of the 538 votes in the
Electoral College. A successful candidate for the presidency of the
United States requires 270 votes in the Electoral College. On 8 October 2002, PWN Exhibicon International
LLC applied to the OFAC for a license to conduct a second U.S. Food
& Agribusiness Exhibition in Havana, Cuba, in January 2004. The
government of Cuba has already agreed to host this second U.S. Food
& Agribusiness Exhibition. CONTACT:
PWN Exhibicon International LLC Peter Nathan, 203/222-8660 Facsimile: 203/222-8335 E-mail: pwnathan@aol.com or U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council John S. Kavulich II, 212/246-1444 Facsimile: 212/246-2345 E-mail: council@cubatrade.org SOURCE: PWN Exhibicon International LLC URL: http://www.businesswire.com
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