ASI Awarded Portion of $141 Million Export Allocation
June 24, 2005
June 24, 2005 -- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns this week announced that more than $141 million worth of funding would be given to 70 U.S. trade organizations to promote U.S. agriculture-products overseas.
The 2005 fiscal year allocations will be administered under the Foreign Agricultural Service?s Market Access Program (MAP) and Quality Samples Program (QSP).
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) received increased funding in both program areas resulting in awards of $389,697 and $340,000 for MAP and QSP, respectively.
?This is extremely important funding for the U.S. wool industry as it continues to explore new markets. The programs are particularly effective when investigating markets that are either high-risk or developing, like China and India,? commented Rita Kourlis Samuelson, deputy director of operations and wool marketing.
The MAP program utilizes matching organizational funding as a means of cost-sharing overseas marketing and promotional activities. ASI uses this funding for projects such as top-combing and scouring trials, trade show participation, trade missions and reverse-trade missions. QSP funding enables U.S. exporters to provide foreign importers with wool samples.
Staff contact: Rita Kourlis Samuelson, ext. 29
<< Back