7 months ago
ShareGov. Mike Beebe is anxious to talk about a trip to Cuba after just returning late Thursday night. He and other state leaders went there to promote Arkansas' agricultural exports.
Beebe spoke Friday morning with reporters fresh off his trip to Havana. Two state legislators, the state's director of economic development, and representatives from both Riceland Rice and Tyson Foods joined him. They all traveled to Cuba amid signs that trade restrictions in place since the 60's may be eased or eliminated.
Beebe says, "The policies are they need more money to buy more stuff and we got the stuff. We produce the food that they need for their people."
Cuban officials invited the group, leaders that are trying to bring more money and food into their island nation.
Bill Reed with Riceland says they've been doing business with Cuba for about a decade but just a little because Cuba buys most of its rice from Vietnam and Spain. They took this trip to improve relations and as the governor said to build trust to hopefully change that.
Reed says it makes the most sense for Cuba to use more Arkansas rice because it can get to the island quicker than rice coming from Vietnam and Spain and can arrive on smaller boats; but due to certain U.S. imposed restrictions it's expensive for the Cubans.
Reed says, "The United States government requires cash in advance before the product leaves the dock. No one else does commerce like that in international trade."
The governor says after the trip, he's optimistic more Arkansas chicken and rice will someday be on dinner tables all over Cuba.
Riceland started doing business with Cuba when certain exemptions were created in 2000 to allow limited agricultural trade.
