SAVANNAH, GA, USA – When U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue wanted to host his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, he looked to his home state, Georgia and the city of Savannah for the trilateral meeting.

Held over a three-day period, World Trade Center Savannah was tapped to work with the U. S. Department of Agriculture to coordinate the visit.

In addition to touring the Port of Savannah and regional farms, Secretary Perdue, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Mexico’s Minister of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food Josè Eduardo Calzada Rovirosa participated in a luncheon and panel discussion hosted by WTCSav.

Titled “Partners for Agriculture in North America” and moderated by WTCSav Vice President Brynn Grant, the discussion centered on the common threads each country shares and the opportunities to work together.

In a press release, Secretary Perdue said, “Our three nations are connected not only geographically, but through our deeply integrated agricultural markets. Our trading relationship is vital to the economies – and the people – of our respective countries. We are working together to support and create good jobs in all three countries. We share a commitment to keeping our markets open and transparent so that trade can continue to grow. That mutual commitment was reaffirmed in our discussions this week.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Young commented on why Savannah was chosen for the historic visit.

“When Secretary Perdue decided to host a trilateral summit with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, he had two objectives: to build a strong working and personal relationship with his peers; and to do so in a comfortable, familiar setting. Savannah was the perfect backdrop to meet both of those goals. Not only does the city possess a charm and beauty that lends itself to casual conversation, Savannah is also a hub of global commerce. With the backdrop of the Port of Savannah, one of the nation's single busiest container ports, the three ministers were visibly able to show the important of agriculture trade in our hemisphere.”

For additional information, please contact LeAndrea Mikell, Programs and Marketing Coordinator at WTC Savannah, at lmikell@wtcsavannah.org.

Pictured above (from left to right): U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, Mexico’s Minister of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food Josè Eduardo Calzada Rovirosa, Brynn Grant, VP, WTCSav)