The Minnesota District Export Council is a private, non-profit organization that brings together experienced international business people who provide guidance and assistance in international markets.

Mission: The Minnesota District Export Council encourages and supports:

• Exports that strengthen individual companies, stimulate U.S. economic growth, and create jobs;
• Export expansion activities by working with the US & FCS domestic offices; and
• Opportunities to promote greater export activity at the local level by developing a trade assistance network.

Through:

• Counseling of local businesses;
• Identifying export financing sources for businesses;
• Creating greater export awareness in their local business communities;
• Identifying issues that affect export trade and implementation of constructive suggestions or improvement;
• Supporting programs and services of US & FCS domestic offices;
• Building local export assistance partnerships with other organizations;
and
• Promoting international education at the community level

Membership list available on the About Us page.

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The official export promotional agency of the state of Minnesota.

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The Midwest Global Trade Association is an organization of international business professionals, representing both importers and exporters, which provide education, current information and support to enhance the international business opportunities of its members and the community.

1821 University Ave. W.
Suite S256
St. Paul, MN 55104
Tel: (651) 917-6257
Fax: (651) 917-1835

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Under the Export Legal Assistance Network program, international trade attorneys from the Federal Bar Association provide free initial consultations to small businesses interested in starting export operations.

The local ELAN contact is:
Steve Timmer
Furber TimmerZahn, pllp
One Financial Plaza, Suite 1100
Phone: 612-573-3668 (direct)
Fax: 612-330-0959
E-mail: stimmer@planetlawyers.com

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Service Corps of Retired Executives help prospective and established small business owners and managers identify problems, determine causes, and find solutions.

The St. Paul SCORE counselors conduct free one-on-one sessions in international business on the last Tuesday of every month . Call the Minnesota Trade office at 651-297-4222 to make an appointment

The Minneapolis SCORE holds free one-on-one consultation in international business the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Please call (952) 938-4570 to make an appointment.

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The Minnesota International Center is a nonprofit organization promoting global exchange and understanding between Minnesotans and the world. MIC hosts lively forums for discussion of global issues, encourages international friendships and intercultural learning, and connects international professionals with their Minnesota counterparts.

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NACM North Central is a commercial credit information company that provides reliable, predictive, in-depth products and services for people who use credit information to compete in their marketplace.

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To reach a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official in Minneapolis, please call 612-348-1690.

Twin Cities Import/Export Council mission statement:

"To provide a forum within the import/export community of high technology companies in the Twin Cities, drawing from the knowledge and experience of all council members, that will allow for networking, teamwork, information exchange, benchmarking and collective problem solving."

Meetings are held once each month on a regular date and hosting rotates among member companies. Instead of a president or chairperson, we have chosen to have a facilitator of our meetings since we are all on a par in this business. That position rotates among members every 6 months.

Currently there are nearly 30 members on the council from 20 companies representing a fairly even mix of commercial and defense manufacturers. They are:

3M, ADC Telecommunications, Alliant Techsystems, Artesyn North America, Ciprico, Circinus, Cray, DataCard Corporation, Donaldson Company, Emerson Process Management, General Dynamics Information Systems, Goodrich Aerospace, Honeywell, Imation, Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense Systems, Medtronic, MTS Systems, Software Engineering Corporation, Storage Tek, TSI, and United Defense.

Our decision, as a council, has been to keep the group small and to limit membership to high tech companies because we share the same issues and concerns, making the discussions more beneficial to all involved. We have chosen not to include service providers such as freight forwarders, brokers and attorneys as not to be a setting for business solicitation.

An existing environment of open discussion, information/data sharing, and mutual trust has led to the development of a close-knit working group. The council's mission and operating style is to learn, not only from outside sources, but from the members; and from that learning, develop information and processes that can be translated into awareness and possible implementation by other members of the council.

For more information, contact: