PIERRE Last week, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and the Governors Office of Economic Development announced a $1 million investment in South Dakota trade to help businesses grow their overseas sales and support high-quality jobs in South Dakota.
South Dakota feeds the world, and we are constantly looking for new opportunities to market our work to consumers in other countries, Noem said. Over 27,000 South Dakotans are employed by jobs directly supported by exports. We will continue to invest in our people and our workforce through the work of South Dakota Trade.
South DakotaTrade, a public-private partnership that opened its doors in April, has already assisted South Dakota companies in securing over $3 million in direct sales. They provided education to over 70 international trade practitioners and executed South Dakotas first trade delegation in 10 years.
Our inaugural year has been incredibly productive, thanks to our partnership with Governor Noem, GOED, and over 25 other organizations across the state, saidSouth Dakota Trade President and CEO Luke J. Lindberg. Companies involved in the delegation led by Lt.Gov. Rhoden to Mexico have realized a return of over 65 times our investment in this mission. We plan on doing more trips in the future.
Earlier this year, Rhoden went on a trade mission to Mexico withSouth Dakota Trade. The early results from that trip have netted a 50-to-1 return on investment for South Dakotas economy.
In South Dakota, ag is our most important industry but there is always room to grow, Rhoden said. Mexico is our second largest trade partner, andSouth Dakota Trade is helping that partnership expand. This investment will make continued growth a reality for South Dakota ag and every industry.
This funding is through GOEDs Future Fund. It will expand the service offeringsSouth Dakota Trade is able to provide to companies in South Dakota and enable them to continue to grow South Dakotas economy.
To learn more, or to talk toSouth Dakota Trade, go to www.southdakotatrade.com.
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