One example of this was in early September when representatives from USSEC met with Tony Freiji, Wadi Group president and CEO.

According to its website, the Wadi Group [link: http://www.wadigroup.com/] has been in agribusiness throughout the MENA region for more than half a century. It launched in Egypt in 1984 with a small-scale poultry operation that today operates 12 subsidiaries with 10 brands in three sectors.

These meetings are designed to help connect U.S. Soy with key customers and open the doors to further conversations, to answer questions and address any challenges.

USSEC participants included CEO Jim Sutter and Brent Babb, regional director for Greater Europe & MENA, and Mousa Wakileh, regional consultant. Also joining the meeting was Brian Kemp, and Iowa soybean farmer and a USSEC member of the board of directors.

Kemp shared the message that “U.S. Soy is open for business” as he welcomed Freiji to the meeting. He also shared insight about his farm, harvest conditions and how the growing season has been locally, compared to that of the rest of the nation.

USSEC continues to host meetings with key customers each week, helping to promote and create a preference for U.S. Soy in international markets.