Governor Tim Walz has departed on a trade mission that he is leading to the United Kingdom and Finland. The mission will focus on increasing state exports, promoting Minnesota as a premier destination for business investment, developing new business opportunities, and strengthening existing ties.
"Minnesota is a great place to do business. Our goal is to share that message with the world, strengthening trade with our partners in Europe while expanding economic opportunity for businesses and families here in Minnesota," said Walz. "I'll be joined by business leaders from across the state as we build on our existing relationships and encourage European businesses to start or grow their operations in Minnesota."
Businesses in Minnesota have a better chance of surviving beyond five years than in any other state in the nation, a compelling reason for businesses in both the UK and Finland grow their investments and expand in Minnesota.
The mission will bring the state's business opportunities to the world and share why Minnesota is an exceptional place to start, build, or grow a business. Building off the recent launch of Minnesota's "Build What Matters" campaign, the mission will pitch Minnesota as the problem-solving capital of the United States. Minnesota has long been a state that builds businesses that make global transformations in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, clean energy, and agriculture.
"The Governor's trade mission is an opportunity for us to showcase the many benefits of doing business with Minnesota, and having operations in our state," said Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove. "The U.K. is our 8th market for exports, and we believe the time is right to open even more doors for Minnesota's exporters, including those at the cutting edge of technology in the medical sector, and those addressing the realities of climate change. We're also excited to visit companies like Uponor -- with its global headquarters in Finland -- since it has expanded operations 11 times in Minnesota since 1990. We want to share what Uponor already knows, that Minnesota's innovative talent and skilled workforce can be depended on to drive your business to the next level."
"Minnesota is bringing a strong delegation of agriculture leaders to the U.K. and Finland to help us highlight the wealth of resources and opportunities we offer the world's food industries," said Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. "We're home to global food and agriculture companies whose products reach consumers in more than 125 countries. Several foreign-owned food companies already have significant operations in Minnesota, including Kerry, Ornua, and Agropur. We're excited to showcase what Minnesota has to offer, both as a trade partner and as a good investment for the world's food industries. We're equally excited to build stronger relationships with the representatives of these two important trade partners. There's just no substitute for the face-to-face meetings, and the firsthand knowledge that these trade missions offer."
The trade mission is happening through Nov. 19 with stops in the major business centers of London and Helsinki. It will have four tracks of concentration: MedTech and Health, Environmental Technologies, Agriculture and Food, and Higher Education.
Both locations -- the UK and Finland -- are important trade partners for Minnesota. The United Kingdom was the state's 8th largest export market in 2020. More than 70 UK-based companies operate at more than 180 business locations in Minnesota, and more than 60 Minnesota companies operate at about 150 business locations in the UK Total trade between Minnesota and Finland was valued at $58 million in goods in 2020 -- where Minnesota imported $39 million from Finland and exported $19 million to Finland.
On the first stop, Walz laid a ceremonial Remembrance Day wreath in honor of 27 Minnesotan soldiers and sailors killed in WWI who are buried and commemorated at the Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial. The second day included visits with Minister Greg Hands of the State Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as well as Minister Penny Mordaunt of State Trade Policy, followed by a visit to Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. The third day of the tour will continue in London, focusing on networking events to increase trade and business between Minnesota and the UK. Next, in Finland, Governor Walz will meet with President Sauli Niinistö before meeting with leadership from UPM and Uponor, both of which have operations in Minnesota. The final day of the tour will focus on networking to increase our partnership and trade with Finnish companies. Governor Walz and the delegation will arrive back in Minnesota Nov. 19.
Walz is joined by First Lady Gwen Walz, Grove, Petersen, and representatives from the Minnesota Trade Office. The state delegation will be joined by business organizations and leaders from across Minnesota, including:
- Shahzad Ahmad, Associate Vice President of Center for International Studies, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud
- Joel Akason, Senior Vice President of Business Investment, GREATER MSP, St. Paul
- Jan Bauer, Consul, UK Government, Crystal
- Bryan Biegler, President, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Burnsville
- Aaron Budge, Minnesota State University, Mankato
- John Cooney III, Director, Government Relations, SkyWater Technology Foundry, Inc., Bloomington
- Kimberly Craig, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Concordia University, St. Paul
- Jeff Davidman, Vice President of Government Affairs, Delta Air Lines
- G. Anton Decker, MBBCh, President of Mayo Clinic International, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
- Steven Dickinson, Co-Chair of International Practice, Cozen O'Connor, Minneapolis
- Timothy Dufault, Board Member and Wheat Farmer, Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotional Council, Red Lake Falls
- Beverly Durgan, Dean, University of Minnesota Extension, Saint Paul
- Mohamed Farah, President, Kaah Transportation, Waite Park
- Kathryn Ferguson, Director of Trade and Business Development, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Duluth
- Bradley Ferguson, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Sky Water Technology Foundry, Bloomington
- Bodil Forsling, Tourism Account Executive, Mall of America, Bloomington
- Peter Frosch, President and CEO, GREATER MSP, St. Paul
- Jeffrey Grev, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Hormel, Austin
- Nicole Griensewic, Executive Director, Region Nine Development Commission, Mankato
- August Hinnenkamp, Co-Founder and CEO, CLO-CLO Vegan Foods, Edina
- Wendy Hinnenkamp, Founder, CLO-CLO Vegan Foods, Edina
- Harlan Jacobs, Director of International Business Development, Crotega, LLC, Crystal
- Patrick Kelly, Shareholder and Officer, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis
- Jukka Kukkonen, Chief Electronic Vehicle Educator and Strategist, Shift2Electric, St. Paul
- Elaine Kumpula, Honorary Consul of Finland and Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Minneapolis
- Laura Lemke, Executive Director, Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, New Prague
- Amy Lindgren, President, Prototype Career Service, St. Paul
- Steven Massey, Superintendent, Forest Lake Area Schools, Forest Lake
- Meredith McQuaid, Associate Vice President & Dean, International Programs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
- Kenneth Morris, Founder and CEO, KnectIQ, Roseville
- Stephen Parente, Professor of Finance, Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair of Health Finance, Associate Dean, Carlson Global Institute, University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, Minneapolis
- Eric Pasi, Chief Development Officer, Impact Power Solutions LLC, Roseville
- Kim Pearson, CEO, New Boundaries Technologies, Inc., Roseville
- Virginia Rutter, Manager, Community Relations, Clean Energy Economy MN, Minneapolis
- Eric Samuelson, President, Northarvest Bean Growers Association, Crookston
- Patrick Seeb, Executive Director Destination Medical Center, Rochester
- Joseph Smentek, Executive Director, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Mankato
- Kenneth Smith, President and CEO, Ever-Green Energy, St. Paul
- Jared Standish, Industry Liaison University of Minnesota - MnDRIVE Advancing Industry, Conserving Our Environment, St. Paul
- Jasmine Stringer, Founder and President, Carpe Diem with Jasmine, LLC., Minneapolis
- Brian Thalmann, Board Member, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Burnsville
- Greg Thomas, Sales and Marketing Director, Innovance, Albert Lea
- Loren Unterseher, Board Member, Sky Water Technology Foundry, Inc., Bloomington
- Robbyn Wacker, President, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud
- Richard Weiner, Vice President and Chair, International Law Practice Group, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis
- Jonathan Weinhagen, President & CEO, Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis
- Donald Weinkauf, Dean of the School of Engineering, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul
- Gary Wertish, President, Minnesota Farmers Union, St. Paul
- Mark Wuollet, Vice President, Mark-Tech International LLC., Minneapolis
Categories: Minnesota, Government & Policy