PARIS, FRANCE - USA Rice participated in the first annual Louisiana Global Leadership Exchange here on October 24. Led by Louisiana's elected officials, the Exchange brought the state’s public and private sectors together with decision-makers across Africa and the African diaspora. The City of New Orleans delivered the welcome remarks, and the embassies of Sierra Leone and Liberia presented their national priorities.
Jesica Kincaid, USA Rice consultant for international market development, presented at the event. Kincaid outlined U.S. rice production across the U.S. and in Louisiana and detailed the importance of exports to the industry. She also highlighted recent Africa-focused events hosted by USA Rice, including the September 2025 USA Rice Trade Seminar in Casablanca, Morocco; the invitation of several members of the Ivory Coast’s Groupement Professionnel des Usiniers du Riz (GPUR) to participate in a reverse trade mission to Louisiana and Arkansas in December 2025; and the upcoming visit of several USA Rice staff and members to the Ivory Coast.
“As USA Rice continues to build trade relationships throughout West Africa, the Louisiana Global Leadership Exchange provided a great opportunity to showcase U.S. rice industry’s quality, consistency, and reliability,” Kincaid said. “It was also a valuable chance to highlight our ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the U.S. and African nations.”