This program will officially terminate at the end of Fiscal Year 2002 (September 30, 2002). Please note: we will accept applications until this date, but available funding for this project has already been obligated for the remainder of this fiscal year.

Worldwide AgLink is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program with the goal of promoting U.S. trade and investment activities with emerging market countries while enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of foreign managers. The program provides financial and administrative support for U.S. managers to visit these markets, identify potential partners for joint activities and offer practical on-the-job training to their foreign counterparts. After a foreign partner is identified, USDA funds the travel expenses and provides visa support and a daily stipend for the foreign manager’s training in the U.S. company.

How to Establish Your AgLink

• The U.S. company completes a Worldwide AgLink application and submits it to USDA. The application includes background on the company, a statement of international interests and a plan for the on-the-job training for a foreign manager. The application is reviewed by USDA.
• If accepted, the U.S. company submits a proposed travel itinerary for the country of interest including names of potential business contacts in order to proceed with travel arrangements.
• The U.S. business person visits potential counterpart companies to become familiar with their businesses and the local environment. Travel is funded and arranged under the Worldwide AgLink program. As a result of this initial visit, the U.S. company identifies a foreign counterpart and manager for training in the U.S.
• The overseas manager may spend up to two months at the U.S. agribusiness for on-the-job training. The U.S. company is responsible for the visiting manager’s housing. Worldwide AgLink provides international airfare, visa support, a daily stipend and health insurance for the overseas manager’s stay in the U.S. Worldwide AgLink will provide one month of English language training before the on-the-job training if necessary.
• After the completion of the on-the-job training, Worldwide AgLink funds a follow-up visit for the U.S. manager to the overseas firm.
• Based on recommendations from the U.S. company, an in-country management seminar may be developed to provide further training for the staff of the foreign company.

AgLink Successes

Through participation in the Worldwide AgLink program, managers of U.S. companies established contacts and developed unique relationships with companies overseas. Foreign managers also gained valuable firsthand experience on how a company operates in a market economy. Here are a couple examples of successful linkages between U.S. companies and their foreign counterparts:

** A U.S. tea and beverage company used the AgLink program to further develop distribution relationships in several Russian cities and to market various brands of tea to Russian customers. The U.S. company is exporting tea supplies to its Russian AgLink partner. The Russian manager  gained hands-on experience in marketing, sales, finance and accounting during her on-the-job training at the U.S. company.

** A U.S. beef and dairy product company utilized the AgLink program to gain access to the Estonian market for beef and dairy industry products. During the initial visit to Estonia, representatives from the U.S. company met with key contacts in the agriculture industry, visited different farms and companies and assessed the dairy community. As a result of these visits, the U.S. company secured orders for its products

Eligible Worldwide AgLink Countries

All emerging market countries as defined below by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.

*   "is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the food, agriculture, or rural
      business sectors of the economy of the country; and
*   "has the potential to provide a viable and significant market for United States  
     commodities or products of United States agricultural commodities."

There is no fixed list of "emerging market" countries. USDA uses, in addition to the legal definition stated above, the following administrative criteria to determine whether a given country is considered an emerging market:

1) Per capita income less than $9,360 [World Development Indicators 1999]);
2) Population greater than 1 million (may encompass suitable regional groupings, e.g., Caribbean Basin).

For more information about Worldwide AgLink or to request application guidelines, please contact:

Brian V. Guse
Worldwide Agribusiness Linkage Program (AgLink)
USDA/FAS/ICD
1400 Independence Ave, SW, Stop 1084
Washington, DC 20250-1084
Tel.: (202) 690-2870 Fax (202) 690-0892
E-mail: GuseB@fas.usda.gov 

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Last modified: Tuesday, February 22, 2005