Cornhuskers travel from the heartland to Havana
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August 17, 2005
Demonstrating once again that commerce comes before politics for many states, a delegation from Nebraska is meeting in Havana this week, led by Governor Dave Heineman (R).
The group was invited by Pedro Alvarez, chairman of the Cuban government’s import company, known as Alimport. With Cuba’s acute shortages of food, Nebraska soybeans, corn and wheat are of considerable interest and discussions have moved into direct negotiations for sale, according to the delegation’s organizer.
That would be Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach, who noted “This appears to be the opportunity we had hoped it might be. I am hopeful that Cuba can grow quickly into a market for Nebraska products.”
Alvarez told the Cuban state press agency that Nebraska was the 34th state to send a trade delegation to the island, following Vermont’s trade mission last week. It’s another sign that with a potentially significant market so close to U.S. shores, continued pressure to lift or modify the trade embargo will confront the next U.S. President. A resolute George W. Bush is not likely to even consider it.
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