FOREIGN TRADE SPECIALIST 

 Dr. Schiva Gandhi 



Due to the economic trends of the day, there has been a marked increase in 

 enquiries on agricultural statistics, latest developments in foreign markets and 

 other information relating to foreign trade. The hundred or so Massachusetts 

 agribusiness firms, some new and others experienced exporters, participating in 

 our export programs are faced with many harsh realities. Reduced U.S. exports 

 to the European community due to a strong U.S. dollar, worldwide economic 

 recession and the European economic community subsidies and also the fact that 

 lesser developed countries strapped for foreign exchange have been concentrating 

 on importing only "essential and necessary commodities", have made these firms 

 eager to tap all potential world markets. The representatives of food and 

 beverage manufacturing companies as well as exporters are becoming increasingly 

 interested in the upcoming food expositions, for these provide them with an 

 ideal opportunity to introduce new products, identify new markets and new trends 

 in food processing, as well as boost sales in national and international 

 markets. 



This year the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 

 (NASDA) and the Foreign Agricultural Service of the USDA sponsored the NASDA 

 National Food and Agricultural Exposition, which took place at the World 

 Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, on May 17-19, 1983. This was the first 

 national export food show ever held in the U.S. Several Massachusetts firms 

 participated in this exposition. The general consensus is that the show was an 

 outstanding success, and the vast majority of exhibitors are looking forward to 

 the next show. 



EUSAFEC (Eastern U.S. Agricultural & Food Export Council, Inc.) program 

 committee meetings are regularly attended throughout the year. At these 

 meetings, the members formulate policies to be adopted and initiatives to be 

 taken to increase the exports of food and other agricultural products. Cabled 

 sales leads for various food products received from buyers throughout the world 

 are frequently channeled via EUSAFEC to this office, from whence they are 

 disseminated to various producers of agricultural food products in the State, 

 for further action. 



The Foreign Trade Section is currently concentrating on disseminating 

 information on the second U.S. International Food Show, which is sponsored by 

 EUSAFEC. The event is to take place in the New York Coliseum (N.Y.C.) April 

 15-18, 1984. The Coliseum will be an international marketplace, where several 

 thousand domestic and foreign buyers will examine, taste, discuss and buy the 

 products the exhibitors have to offer. 



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