FARGO, N.D. - Delegates from India visited recently to take part in a reverse trade mission focusing on North Dakota soybeans. Twelve delegates from the South Asian country are participating in educational sessions, meetings with company representatives and an evaluation comparing North Dakota and Indian soybeans.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring also joined the group to support the trade relations established earlier this year during North Dakota's first India Trade Mission in February.
One outcome of the India Trade Mission was an agreement for the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association (NFGSA) to provide the first shipment ever of U.S. soybeans to India. The shipment was a large sample, five containers of soybeans that was distributed throughout India and tested for quality and consistency in comparison to Indian soybeans.
The companies visiting North Dakota are Indian soy food companies that have received the results of those tests and are looking to further their relationship with North Dakota soybean companies. Additional testing on North Dakota and Indian soybeans is taking place at the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) with Indian delegates in attendance.
India is North Dakota's eighth largest export market, with exports valued at $34 million in 2015, a 2 percent drop from 2014, but a 17 percent increase from 2013.
