• Minnesota District Export Council (MNDEC)
• Minnesota Trade Office
• Midwest Global Trade Association
• Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN)
• Minnesota International Center (MIC)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Twin Cities Import/Export Council

Minnesota District Export Council (MNDEC)

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.

Minnesota Trade Office
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street,Suite E200
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1351
U.S.A.

General Phone:    651-259-7499
Toll Free:  800-657-3858 (ask for the Minnesota Trade Office)
Fax: 651-296-3555 (main fax)
Trade Assistance Helpline: 651-259-7498

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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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Get the answers to your export legal questions from the Export Legal Assistance Network...ELAN.
Thinking About Exporting? Exports can mean big profits for a small business. But when you're just starting out, tariffs, regulatory requirements, distributorship agreements and other legal matters can be a little intimidating. The Export Legal Assistance Network program can help you over these first hurdles.

The local ELAN contact is:
Marcia B. Haffmans, Esq.
HAFFMANSLAW
2015 Fremont Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Tel: (612) 377-0391
Fax: (612) 377-4993
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Minnesota International Center (MIC)

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.

Tel: 612.625.4421
Fax: 612.624.1984

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

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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 every other 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 12 months.

Currently there are nearly 50 members on the council from over 25 companies representing a fairly even mix of commercial and defense manufacturers, including:

3M, ADC Telecommunications, Aero Systems Engineering, BAE Systems, The Bergquist Company, Best Buy, Circinus, Cray, DataCard, Donaldson Company, Emerson Process Management, GE Infrastructure, Goodrich Sensors & Integrated Systems, Honeywell, Imation, Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, Medtronic, Minco, MTS Systems, Multek Flexible Circuits, SICK, SPX Corporation / Service Solutions, Thompson Trade Services, TSI, WTH International Services, and Worthington Aviation.

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 offer membership to service providers such as freight forwarders, brokers and attorneys so 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:

Ann Thomas
Circinus, Ltd.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

651.490.32.01

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