USDBC Monthly Activities Report Southeast Asia Representative. March 2017

Transcription

1 USDBC Monthly Activities Report Southeast Asia Representative March 2017 M17GXASEA1 and M17GXWWA01: Trade Servicing Malaysia The trip report for the technical assistance trip by Natsuki Fujiwara and Pornnicha Sathujarun in January 2017, was completed and submitted to Rebecca Bratter last month. In this month, we have been working with Resource Food Supplies, a local importer of U.S. dry pulses, based in Malaysia. They would like to receive samples of U.S. pulse-based fried, extruded, and roasted snacks for their customers to taste and conduct R&D trials. We worked with Natsuki and plan to have these samples arrive in Malaysia early next month. On March 21 st, Rebecca Bratter sent us a listing of trade leads provided by USDBC South Europe, Africa and Middle East representative who attended the GulFood Trade Show, organized during February 26 th March 2 nd at Dubai World Trade Centre. Later on, we sent an to Trichy Marketing Sdn. Bhd. to introduce ourselves as well as follow up on their interest in garbanzo beans, dark and light red kidney beans, and other dry pulses, 10 containers per year total mixed. We are still awaiting for their feedback at this stage. On March 23 rd, we had a meeting with Ken Davis, Managing Director of Spectrum Ingredients, a bakery ingredient importer, based in Singapore but with offices throughout the region. We informed him that Voon Yit Yang, Southeast Asia Head of Product Development and Innovation, of AB Mauri Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is interested to receive 500 gram samples of precooked garbanzo bean flour for testing. Spectrum has arranged for the samples to be delivered. Indonesia Dee Richmond and Pornnicha Sathujarun, the USDBC Regional representatives traveled to Jakarta during March. The major objective of this trip was to discuss the 2 nd year of the approved 2016 GBI Project, M16GXID011 (see below). We also took this opportunity to discuss our upcoming activities with our key contacts as well as follow up on their current projects involving dry pulses and pulse ingredients. We had a meeting with Amelia Hadisiswanto, Business Development Coordinator Food Ingredients Division and Fenny Tobondo, Product Manager Food Ingredients Division of PT. Ekacitta Dian Persada, an ingredient importer based in Jakarta but with offices throughout Indonesia. They are interested in purchasing a consolidated container of U.S. dry beans. She indicated that she had ed some of the U.S. suppliers whom she met on the September trade mission about this, but has not heard back yet. We will follow up. Another meeting was conducted with Dani Solichin, Managing Director of PT. Prambanan Kencana, a major importer based in Jakarta. They are looking to import pulses from the U.S. in consolidated containers. The items include: black beans, pinto beans, small red beans, roasted and slightly salted garbanzo beans, and lentils. Later on, we sent their inquiry out as a trade lead. On March 21 st, Dani mentioned that they have been communicating with U.S. suppliers and are still working on the pricing and identifying the opportunities to introduce these products to the market. In addition, we followed up with them on their interest in roasted garbanzo beans from U.S., which they will purchase in bulk and repack in Indonesia. Since they have not had any luck sourcing these directly from the U.S., we liaised with the USDBC Europe representative, Johanna Stobbs, to see if she has any snack contacts in Turkey who are currently producing roasted garbanzo snacks with U.S. garbanzos and who may be interested to export in bulk to Indonesia. We are continuing to follow up with Johanna on this. Page 1 of 6

2 We also had encouraging meetings with Bill Busch, Lotus Distribution, who has begun purchasing U.S. dry beans for Bali and Mario Nugroho, who is still in the process of import registration for U.S. pulses. He intends to launch these under his Fargo brand later this year. Below are some pictures taken during the trip. More details will be provided in the Trip Report. Meeting with PT. Ekacitta Dian Persada at Le Meridien Hotel on March 21. Meeting with PT. Prambanan Kencana at their Head Office in Jakarta Thailand On March 17 th, we met with Ms. Christine M. Sloop, the Agricultural Counselor, and Ms. Sukanya Sirikeratikul, the Marketing Specialist, at FAS Bangkok. We updated and consulted them about our upcoming activities in Thailand and Southeast Asia this year, including the August trade mission, the Thailand social media campaign, and a possible EMP tariff reduction project for pulse ingredients. Ms. Sukanya mentioned that for Thai people, they like to follow the activities of the celebrity who they like so she recommended to have a celebrity to help in promotion. On March 22 nd, we had a lunch meeting with Wang Chemicals Co., Ltd., one of the major importers of U.S. pulses and U.S. pulse ingredients in Thailand. The main objective of this meeting was to focus on the potential of using pulse flours in cosmetics. During a recent EMP technical assessment, we heard requests for more information on the possible uses of pulse flours in this application. We have since learned that gram flour has been used as a facial cleanser in India. We met with Wang to find out what the next steps in such a project might involve as they have a number of customers in the cosmetics industry in Thailand. We also discussed progress on their efforts to market pulse ingredients in Thailand. As of now, they have two good prospects. On March 24 th, we sent a follow-up to Mr. Dustin O Farrell, Regional Manager of Buhler, asking him for feedback from his head office in Switzerland on Buhler s participation as a key speaker in the August trade mission. A week later, he informed us that the head office has committed a presentation by Buhler in each country concerning possibilities in pulse processing. Dustin and/or another staff from Buhler will present the information during the trade mission. HERITAGE SNACKS & FOOD CO., LTD., based in Thailand, is interested in 1 mixed container of Pinto Beans, Great Northern Beans, Navy Beans, Yellow Split Peas, Green Split Peas and Lentils. They are a leading and healthy snack company in Thailand. Their brand "Nut Walker" is wellknown and is the leader in innovative nuts and snacks. They are currently importing the pulses from the U.S. for the raw material and would like to look for an alternative supplier. Page 2 of 6

3 A trade lead from Heritage Snacks & Food Co., Ltd. was sent out to industry members on March 24. Please see below. 1. What product are you interested in? - Pinto Bean - Great Northern Beans - Navy Beans - Yellow Split Peas - Green Split Peas - Lentils 2. What is the nature of your business? - Importer - Food Manufacturer 3. Can you tell me more about your business? - 4. What products are you currently importing/using from the U.S.? - Pinto Bean - Great Northern Beans - Navy Beans - Yellow Split Peas - Green Split Peas - Lentils 5. What information do you need from us? How can we help you? - 6. Company and Contact Person? Nutchuda Jintavadeethanachot (Nut) IMPORT DEPARTMENT HERITAGE SNACKS & FOOD CO., LTD Tel : # 7322 Fax : Emai: import@heritagethailand.com, anusra@heritagethailand.com 7. Products wanted: 1 mixed container of Pinto Bean, Great Northern Beans, Navy Beans, Yellow Split Peas, Green Split Peas and Lentils 8. Terms: N/A 9. Port of delivery: PAT BANGKOK Vietnam Ms. Surisa Techawiratchon, the U.S. Dry Bean Council ASEAN Representative, traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during March 2017, to help sponsor and participate in the event Celebration of the Saigon Professional Chef s Guild 12 th Anniversary with U.S. Products. There were 7 U.S. cooperators who participated: U.S. Dry Bean Council, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, Potatoes USA, U.S. Meat Export Federation, Raisin Administrative Committee, U.S. Dairy Export Council, USA Poultry Egg Export Council and Washington Apple Commission. We also contacted TMT Co., Ltd., the major U.S. dry bean importer in Vietnam, to supply U.S. pulses for the dinner and share an exhibit table with us. We displayed packages of U.S. pulses, brochures, and recipes. We worked with Chef Norbert Ehrbar on a dinner menu that included dishes made from U.S. beans and U.S. peas. These included: 1) U.S Lentil, Crispy Ham, Feta Salad; 2) Hummus Bar, involving U.S. chickpeas and green peas; 3) Fried U.S. Chickpeas (snack); Page 3 of 6

4 4) U.S. Lentil and Ham Soup; 5) U.S. Split Pea Stew with U.S. Chicken and U.S. Turkey Sausages; and 6) 3 types of chili with Pinto beans There were 258 members of The Saigon Professional Chef s Guild s who participated in the event this year. The program was successful and went very well. Many of their members visited our table and we gained a lot of new potential customers. Most of them are chefs. We met some food processors that we think are good targets for our upcoming trade mission in August this year. We mentioned the trade mission to them and will send them an invitation. Some pictures taken at the event are found below: Group Photo with Gerald Smith, FAS office, Chef Norbert Ehrbar, and U.S. Cooperators U.S. dry pulses and brochures on the table You USADPLC and USDBC Table Young chefs visiting our table The secondary purpose of this trip was to meet with Mr. Gerald Smith, the Senior Agricultural Attache and other FAS staff at the Office of Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Consulate General, Ho Chi Minh City to update them about the upcoming Trade Mission program in Vietnam and ask them for their advice. We also discussed a possible 2018 GBI project with them, involving a social media program for pulses in Vietnam. The last purpose was to survey the hotels for our upcoming trade mission. After the FAS meeting, we surveyed 2 of 5 hotels that FAS office recommended. They were Caravelle Saigon Hotel and Sheraton Hotel. Both are nice hotels with very good meeting room facilities and good location. We informed them that we will need to get back to them about the exact dates and final details after we return to Bangkok. Singapore We contacted Eve Felder, Culinary Institute of America, Singapore Campus to inform her about the approval of our EMP project, U.S. Dry Bean Menu Development for HRI Buyers and Media. We will be talking with her by phone about the project, including a possible follow up project in Page 4 of 6

5 Philippines Ms. Dee Richmond and Mr. Aaron Henry travelled to Philippines on 24 March Members of the Philippine Pulse Association (PAP) were scheduled to meet this day and we took this opportunity to invite Mr. Henry to present his ideas regarding a planned Social Media Campaign in Thailand and Indonesia. Philippines already started its social media campaign when it launched IYOP in We wanted Mr. Henry to inform PAP members of the benefits of having a combined, regional campaign involving all 3 countries, rather than one that is developed and managed country-by-country. Both the quantity and quality of the campaign are likely to improve. PAP members endorsed the idea. F17GXWWA05: Worldwide Trade Mission Work proceeded on the Worldwide Trade Mission this month. The dates of the mission were set for September 9 16, The USDBC Southeast Asian representative communicated with all of the U.S. industry members involved to put together a preliminary schedule, which will include stops in Chicago, Michigan, North Dakota, and Nebraska. This schedule will be sent out to the international representatives in early April to nominate buyers for the mission. It is anticipated that buyers from around the world will take part. E14MXASEA4: Providing Southeast Asian Buyers with Greater Technical Knowledge of the U.S. Dry Bean Industry This project ended December 31, This month, we submitted the final project report to Rebecca Bratter and Brenda Diaz on March 8. E14MXASEA6: Diversifying Southeast Asia s Fried Snack Market On February 1 st, we received word that the Technical Assessment for this project has been approved. Then, we began exploring possibilities for conducting the subsequent U.S. dry bean frying and roasting trials, including using the resources of NCI, fried snack makers in Southeast Asia, Buhler Corporation, and/or Heat and Control in Singapore. NCI knows pulses, thus will be able to be a product consultant for us on this project. However, they do not have the commercial fryers or roasters needed for the research and development trials or the technical workshops. We contacted the Food Innovation & Resource Centre of Singapore Polytechnic on the possibility for them to run the trials and use their facilities for this project. They revealed that they have done some projects on snack products, such as tempeh chips, crackers, and cashew nuts etc., but most of the products have been non-fried items. In addition, we have been checking with fried snack makers in Southeast Asia, but none of them will allow us into their facilities for trials. Our best option for the frying trials is Heat and Control. They are a company that produces the frying equipment that is needed to produce the fried pea snacks in Southeast Asia and have actually produced a technical manual on this. We had a conference call with Mr. Richard Ong, Regional Sales Manager of Heat and Control, based in Singapore and learned that they are willing to work with us on this with a confidentiality agreement on the trials. The best option would be for them to run the bean frying trials at their research and development facilities in Brisbane, Australia. They would then use these trials as the basis for the technical workshops, which we would conduct in Southeast Asia. In addition, we have been communicating with Buhler on the roasting trials, as they have large, belt roasters as well as small roasters which are used for coffee roasting. Rebecca Bratter agreed with this plan and has asked us to prepare an EMP Amendment Request for this, so she can get formal approval from FAS in order to move ahead on the next steps. Page 5 of 6

6 M15GXGBI26: Additional Educational Activities for Southeast Asian Health Professionals This month, we finished translating the post-seminar survey that we received from the Thai Dieticians Association in January. We continued to work on the final report and a success story on this project. M16GXID011: Technical Training of Indonesian Traditional Food Producers Most of the expenses associated with the 3 technical workshops and follow up sessions have been submitted. We are currently drafting the final report on this project. M17GXID011: New Product Development Competition for Indonesian Traditional Food Producers This is the second year of the approved 2016 GBI Project, M16GXID011: Technical Training of Indonesian Traditional Food Producers. It is targeted at innovative small and medium-sized traditional foods producers in Surabaya, Jogjakarta, and Denpasar, building on the results of the 3 technical seminars that were conducted in The USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council is the lead cooperator on this project. On March 21 st, we had a meeting with collaborating parties, including Raisin Administrative Committee, Potatoes USA and FAS Jakarta on the plan to implement the 2017 project that involves a traditional food product development competition in the 3 cities. The team agreed to work closely with the chefs association in each major city to organize the competitions. We will be approaching Chef Haryanto Makmoer on the possibility of involving him in the competitions. Below is a tentative schedule for this activity: 1-15 July Work with chef associations to recruit participants in each country. Invitations will be sent to our previous Oleh-Oleh attendees Last week of July Announce successful participants in each city Last week of August Conduct a technical seminar for successful participants. U.S. cooperators will attend. We will also do a follow up with 2016 Oleh- Oleh Participants September Conduct cooking and baking competition. U.S. cooperators will also take part. End of September. Announce the winners in each city. Print cookbooks. GBI: Strengthening of the U.S. Market Position for Cambodia This month, we started working on the final project report. M17GXGBI99: Raising Awareness of U.S. Pulses through Social Media The U.S. Dry Bean Council is the lead cooperator on this GBI project for Thailand and Indonesia. The other partner is the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council. This month, we continued to identify public relations firms that we can work with to implement this project as well as started communicating with key contacts, including FAS offices, local importers, and food manufacturers to get them involved. We also traveled to Manila to convince the PAP to join this effort. U.S. Dry Bean Menu Development for HRI Buyers and Media We worked closely with Rebecca Bratter and Brenda Diaz to answer EMP Office budget questions on this project. We believe it is near final approval. Drafting a RFP for the Technical Assessment is the next major step to move ahead. Page 6 of 6