At The Capitol / Governor to make trade trip to India

01/31/2007

Delegation will include 30 business leaders


BY BILL SALISBURY
Pioneer Press


Gov. Tim Pawlenty is going to India in the fall, but he won't see the Taj Mahal.

Pawlenty announced on Tuesday that he will lead a delegation of 30 Minnesota business executives on a trade mission Oct. 20-27 to India.

"We view this as a tremendous opportunity to better acquaint Minnesota with India and to better acquaint India with Minnesota," he said at a Capitol news conference.

Asked if he would visit "The Taj," the country's most famous monument, Pawlenty replied, "This is not sight-seeing or shopping. This is work."

Why go to India? With a population of 1.1 billion people, India is a huge market with a rapidly growing middle class. Pawlenty said its strong economic growth is "unleashing a wave of demand" for goods and services that Minnesota businesses can tap.

Which cities will be visited? New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Who else is going? Business executives interested in joining the mission can apply by May 31 to the Minnesota Trade Office. In addition to the 30 business leaders to be chosen as official delegates, Tony Lorusso, executive director of the trade office, said other business representatives can go as "independent delegates" and participate in a limited number of events on the trip. Applications are available online at http://www.exportminnesota.com.

What will the delegation do? They will participate in marketing presentations and roundtable discussions, have networking opportunities and meet individually with potential customers, distributors and partners.

What are Minnesota's connections? Minnesota is among the top 10 U.S. states in rate of growth of exports to India, said Concordia University economist Bruce Corrie. Between 2000 and 2005, the state's exports to India grew more than 200 percent. More than 30,000 people from India live in Minnesota.

What makes a successful trip? Increased trade. Since Pawlenty's 2005 trade mission to China, Minnesota exports to that country have doubled, and China has moved from Minnesota's fourth-largest foreign trade market to second place.

What does it cost? Between $4,500 and $5,000 per person, but the state will only pay for the governor, his wife and government employees.

Where else has Pawlenty gone? In addition to China, he led trade missions to Canada in 2003 and to Poland and the Czech Republic in 2004.