The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $460,000 grant on June 30, 2003, to Pinar ET Group to fund a study on the economic feasibility of using the North American model of beef cattle farming in Turkey.
The study will involve a pilot project on the Altinova state-owned farm, located approximately 140 kilometers southwest of Ankara, Turkey. RunAgra Company of Kansas City, Missouri, will perform the study and implement the pilot program.
If that pilot project is successful and the full project is realized, "Turkey will benefit from a higher quality, less expensive, and more abundant domestic beef supply," according to a USTDA press release.
If the full project is realized, it could result in up to $50 million of US exports of beef cattle, farming technology and equipment. Yasar Holding A.S., the parent company of Pinar, signed on behalf of the grantee. Founded in 1985. Pinar Et is Turkey's first private meat processing plant.
The USTDA advances economic development and US commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
