Builds Future Demand For US Soybeans
September 3, 1996... Saint Louis, Missouri... The American Soybean Association announces the opening of its Asia Subcontinent Office in India and the appointment of Virgil Miedema as Regional Director, Asia Subcontinent. ASA President David Erickson said, "This area of the world offers many challenges and opportunities for ASA to enhance the marketability of US soybeans and soybean meal." India is a major competitor to the US soybean industry in the Asian markets, exporting nearly 90 percent of its domestic soybean meal production. The ASA/Asia Subcontinent Office is the Association's 13th International Marketing Office and will be located in New Delhi, India.
Mr. Miedema worked for the Agency for International Development as Director of their Program and Project Support Office in Jakarta, Indonesia. He brings over twenty years of international experience in the Asian Subcontinent to the ASA.
ASA Division Director for Asia Gil Griffis said, "The Asia Subcontinent Office is ASA's first International Marketing office which will be fully funded by the United Soybean Board." ASA's activities to expand international markets for US soybeans and products are made possible by producer checkoff dollars invested by the United Soybean Board and by various state soybean councils. ASA also receives cost-share funding provided by the US Department of Agriculture.
ASA is a national, not-for-profit, nonpartisan, volunteer, farmer-controlled commodity organization with 29,000 members that works to strengthen soybeans as an economically and environmentally sound cropping opportunity in the best interest of soybean growers and the public. ASA has affiliated offices in 26 states, and with the addition of the ASA/Asian Subcontinent Office, a total of 13 offices in foreign countries.
For more information, contact:
Gil Griffis, ASA Asia Division Director
Or, Bob Callanan, Communications Director
American Soybean Association
540 Maryville Centre Drive, Suite 390
Saint Louis, MO 63141
Phone: (314) 576-1770, Fax: (314) 576-2786