CHICAGO, Ill. — The Illinois Global Partnership (IGP) is a relative newcomer for Illinois producers who want to expand their market base to an International level.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich helped create the nonprofit IGP in 2005. The IGP is a private/public enterprise dedicated to building Illinois as a center for global business. The IPG is to work closely with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and other state agencies.

The IGP’s goal of working with the IDOA was evident at the recent Food Institute Market show, May 7-9 at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. As a co-sponsor of the show, the IGP helped Illinois producers share their products to a national and worldwide audience.

“The IPG recently acquired the Department of Agriculture’s international marketing group to promote Illinois’ food offerings on the global market,” said IDOA Communications Manager Chris Herbert. “The IPG works with private and public partners to establish a strong international brand for Illinois focusing on research and commercialization of food technology, bioenergy and bio products.”

Herbert said the IPG is working with IDOA on the Food Marketing Institute.

“This is the first year we are working with the IL Global Partnership,” he said. “They lead our agricultural marketing and help us market our products on a greater level trying to make Illinois a center for Global Business.”

The IGP is a people-to-people group that accomplishes its goals by working with international, federal, state and local groups to boost international trade and raise Illinois’ profile as a global commerce center. The IGP has a satellite office in Springfield, Ill. with its head office in Chicago and international offices in Hong Kong and Mexico City.

For more details, contact the IGP, 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2500, Chicago, IL, 60601-7553, or call 312-425-7000 or fax 312-425-7007. The IPG website is at www.illinoisglobal.org

This farm news was published in the May 17, 2006 issue of Farm World.