EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVEL
Program: BUSINESS & COMMUNITY DEVELPMT
Activity: MINNESOTA TRADE OFFICE
Activity at a Glance
• Minnesota-manufactured
exports
have
increased by 54% since 2000, despite the
worldwide economic downturn in 2009.
Minnesota ranked 20th largest in value among
all states, unchanged from 2007 and 2008.
• China remained the second largest export
market for Minnesota, behind only Canada,
and has increased by 88% since launching
the Minnesota China Partnership in 2005.
•
In CY 2009, the MTO assisted approximately
74 visiting foreign delegations/dignitaries,
provided education services to nearly 1,000
business leaders, and responded to 1,263
requests for technical assistance from 551
companies.
Narrative
Activity Description
The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) supports business
development and expansion by promoting exports and
foreign direct investments that contribute to the growth of
the state’s economy. Specific statutory authority comes
from M.S. 116J.966.
Population Served
MTO services are available to all Minnesota manufacturers
and service providers, but the MTO primarily assists small-
and medium-sized companies.
Services Provided
MTO services are divided into six broad categories:
Export counseling and technical assistance: The MTO
is staffed with a team of international trade representatives
with broad international business experience who can help
guide companies through the challenges of conducting
international business. Through confidential and personalized meetings, MTO trade representatives help
companies evaluate their export readiness, assist with market research, identify market opportunities, provide
market intelligence and regulatory information, identify potential distributors, partners, agents, and buyers, and
much more. The MTO has a Trade Assistance Help Line to streamline assistance to companies.
Export promotion services: The MTO arranges numerous export promotional events, including trade missions
and trade shows, to help companies acquire market information, explore market opportunities, and meet
prospective distributors, partners, agents, and buyers. The MTO manages the state’s strategy for China, called
the Minnesota-China Partnership. The MTO has an office in Shanghai to assist companies with this unique and
challenging market. During the Governor’s mission to India in 2005, Minnesota established a sister-state
partnership with the state of Haryana, India.
Export education and training services: In partnership with other organizations, the MTO provides cutting-
edge training seminars and workshops for new and experienced exporters. Education programs include
fundamentals for beginners, how to conduct international market research, topical seminars on specific and
technical aspects of exporting, daylong “immersion” courses focused on the business climate and requirements of
specific countries such as China, Japan and Korea, and detailed market and industry briefings. The MTO offers
education and training programs in St. Paul and occasionally in other locations throughout Minnesota.
International business resources: To ensure Minnesota companies have the very latest market intelligence at
their disposal, the MTO works with the DEED library to maintain an extensive collection of information on foreign
markets. Open to the public Monday through Friday and staffed with professional researchers, the resource
center is replete with economic data, export statistics, international trade periodicals, company directories, a wide
variety of electronic and internet-based market research tools, as well as materials to help companies learn the
mechanics of exporting and the art of conducting business in other cultures. Companies also can access valuable
research resources on the MTO website.
Protocol Assistance: The MTO serves as the Office of Protocol for Minnesota. As such, when visiting foreign
delegations and dignitaries visit Minnesota in an official capacity to meet with the Governor or Lieutenant
Governor, the MTO assists with hosting meetings, making travel arrangements, providing gifts, and other
functions as necessary to ensure a successful visit and positive image of Minnesota.
State of Minnesota
Page 20
Background
2012-13 Biennial Budget
11/30/2010