The Fifth U.S.-Mongolia Business Forum took place simultaneously with the AG CONNECT Expo yesterday with several dozen delegates from Mongolia meeting with delegates from the United States to discuss how the two countries can better work together. A goal as delivered by the various speakers, is to see more U.S. companies investing in Mongolia.
The Mongolian delegation is one of 20 that arrived in Orlando this week, and the largest, with 16 of these being organized by the Department of Commerce.
During the opening remarks, in a letter from Kh. Bekhbat, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the United States, read by Zhen Gong Cross, the Head of Mongolian Affairs with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bekhbat noted that Mongoia is a mineral rich economy that is now seeing foreign investors. The increased funds are being used to provide jobs, educational funds and health care.
Not only would the country like to see more investments in the mineral side, it has also created a new shared stock company that would share in the country’s mining industry, but they would also like to see investments and participation in the agriculture industry. “Agriculture is an important part of the economy,” wrote Bekhbat.
The Mongolian delegates plan to meet with various companies to dicusss agricultural opportunities and investments during the AG CONNECT Expo. The group has prioritized its greatest needs and prepared a detailed list of projects in which they seek global investors.
Besides all the educational sessions and seminars taking place at AG CONNECT Expo many of the exhibitors are also conducting classes. John Deere has an elevated classroom in theirs that features a wide screen tv connected via internet back to their offices in Iowa. So, there is an on-site facilitator to operate the equipment on this end while the actual instructor is heard over speakers while he controls what you see on the screen.
The AG CONNECT Expo is unique compared to other ag shows in the states in that it is one of the first attempts to bring the global agriculture industry together to discuss the future including challenges, opportunities, new technologies and research and also address how countries and companies can work together to aid developing countries with their agriculture programs and initiatives.
The crowd of attendees here at AG CONNECT Expo is pretty diverse as you might expect at a major agricultural trade show. We’ve got lots of international visitors and exhibitors.
I think we had a great crowd for the opening ceremony of the first ever AG CONNECT Expo. The Chapin Theater here at the Convention Center is a beautiful facility.
We had a great tweetup here at AG CONNECT Expo tonight. Thanks to AGCO for sponsoring it.
AG CONNECT Expo is officially underway. The opening ceremonies featured the winners of the Agvocating for Agriculture awards seen on stage with the committee members who put the show together.