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PANAMA CITY, Panama. – Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson is currently joining the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) on a Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) Trade Mission to Panama this week. RAPP aims to diversify and expand market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products beyond the traditional customers.
“I am honored to join this trade mission to Panama with my colleagues from NASDA on behalf of the State of Mississippi,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Panama, one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America, relies on food imports. In 2024, Mississippi exported nearly $2 million of agricultural goods to Panama, including poultry, pet food, forest products and pork products. I see potential to further strengthen our trading relationship with Panama.”
The delegation includes agriculture commissioners and directors representing other state departments of agriculture and industry partners seeking to expand market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. The trade mission is led by and funded by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture as part of the United States Department of Agriculture RAPP program. Commissioner Gipson serves as a member of NASDA, a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories, which will cover his travel expenses.
While there, Commissioner Gipson and fellow delegation members will meet with Panamanian government officials, visit the Panama Canal, observe U.S. products in the marketplace and discover the latest Panamanian consumer food trends, and engage in meetings and site visits to build new trade partnerships.
The trade mission will conclude Friday, April 11, 2025.
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