Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says he believes there’s a lot of opportunity for North Dakota to sell agricultural products to Cuba.
Goehring led a trade delegation to Cuba last week. He says things have changed – a lot – since he was there in 2010.
"We're talking about a country that only produces 40 percent of their caloric needs," said Goehring. "And because of tourism, it has to import 80 percent of their food. We believe we have quite an opportunity as we move forward."
Bank of North Dakota President Eric Hardmeyer was on the Cuba trade mission. He says the Bank would like to help, if possible.
"If there is a way the Bank or North Dakota can provide an opportunity for exporters to provide product to Cuba, BND would certainly like to play a role in that," said Hardmeyer.
Goehring says he hopes to schedule a reverse trade mission – with representatives of Cuba’s importing agency, Alimport, coming to North Dakota to look at agriculture.