Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced that the first of new shipments of soybeans from Perdue Agribusiness’ deep water export facility in Chesapeake have arrived in China.
The shipments were secured in a trade deal between the Dandong Port Group Co. and its affiliate Dandong Pasite Grain and Oilseed Co. Ltd. and Perdue Agribusiness as a result of the trade and economic development mission Gov. McDonnell led to Asia earlier this year. The vessel carrying the soybeans, Corviglia, left Chesapeake in late October and arrived at the Port of Dandong on Monday night.
The deal has the potential to make China Virginia’s top agricultural export recipient; last year, Virginia agricultural exports to China reached $194 million. A Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service international marketing and development specialist hand-delivered a letter from Governor McDonnell to Mr. Wenliang Wang, the chairman of the Dandong Port Group Co., reaffirming the relationship between the company and Virginia and looking forward to increased opportunities for purchases of Virginia agricultural products.
“The arrival of this shipment is reason for celebration in both Virginia and Dandong, and I applaud the Dandong Port Group and Perdue Agribusiness for their diligent efforts to reach export contracts and a Memorandum of Understanding to develop new business opportunities,” said McDonnell. “I am certain that these deals also lay the foundation of what is sure to be a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Liaoning Province. The addition of this new market in China will support Perdue Agribusiness’ operations in Virginia, our agricultural producers, and other farm-related jobs in Virginia. Further, it has established a new trade relationship in China with great potential for growth. I look forward to returning to China at some point in 2012 to seek further opportunities for trade with Virginia.”
Share
Contributors
