Governor Dayton is leading a delegation of 24 Minnesota business, agriculture and academic leaders on a trade mission to South Korea. This will be the first Minnesota trade mission to South Korea and the first trade mission of Governor Dayton's administration. South Korea is Minnesota's sixth-largest export market, up from fourteenth just one decade ago. South Korea, which offers significant economic opportunities for Minnesota manufactured goods and for agriculture and service exporters, is a source of growing demand. Governor Dayton is traveling to Seoul to promote trade and investment with South Korea, as well as to support Minnesota companies currently doing business in the country.

During the trade mission, members of the delegation will attend briefings on the geopolitical and business climate in South Korea, attend networking events and company site visits, and meet with South Korean companies through a business-to-business concierge service.

Before arriving in South Korea, Governor Dayton will attend the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference in Tokyo. Governor Dayton will address attendees at the conference; Minnesota will host the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association conference in 2012.

Governor Dayton will also travel to Kyoto and Osaka in Japan for meetings to promote trade and investment, before traveling to meet the Minnesota delegation in Seoul, South Korea.

Please note that all events are subject to change.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Governor Dayton departs Minnesota.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Governor Dayton arrives in Tokyo.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Governor Dayton will meet with students from the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University who are studying in Tokyo.

In the afternoon, Governor Dayton will meet with board members of the Japan Minnesota Association, before attending a sumo wrestling tournament at Kokugikan Sumo Stadium. In the evening, Governor Dayton will attend a meeting and reception for the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Governor Dayton will meet with Delta Japan executives in the morning, and later with Sumitomo 3M President Jesse Singh.

At the Midwest U.S.-Japan Conference, Governor Dayton will deliver welcoming remarks at the opening session of the conference, and will invite attendees to the 2012 Midwest U.S.-Japan Conference, which will be hosted in Minnesota. Michael Langley, CEO of Greater MSP, will also address conference attendees.

Governor Dayton will meet with Saitama Prefecture Governor Kiyoshi Ueda before departing Tokyo in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, Governor Dayton will travel to Kyoto, Japan, via high-speed rail. Central Japan Rail will provide a tour of the engineer control car during the train trip to provide a briefing on Japanese technology in this sector.

Governor Dayton will attend a dinner with Noriyuki Inoue, chairman and CEO of Daikin Industries, which is the parent company of McQuay International.

After dinner, Governor Dayton will travel to Osaka, Japan.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

In Osaka, Governor Dayton will have a breakfast meeting with leadership of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and the U.S. Consul General in Osaka. The OCCI will host a roundtable discussion focused on biobusiness/life sciences industries in Minnesota and Japan. Governor Dayton will be joined at this event by Dale Wahlstrom, president and CEO of the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, an organization dedicated to the advancement of bioscience-based businesses in Minnesota.

Governor Dayton will travel to Daikin Kanaoka Factory for a tour of Daikin Solutions Plaza and Factory, including the "Solutions Plaza," where the company's newest technologies are highlighted. The Kanaoka Factory is home to Daikin's air-conditioning division and transportation and refrigeration systems division.

In the afternoon, Governor Dayton will travel to Seoul, South Korea, and will host a traditional Korean welcome dinner for the members of the Minnesota trade delegation in the evening.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Governor Dayton and the delegation will be briefed by U.S. Embassy staff from the U.S. Commercial Service and Agricultural Trade Office, who will give a geopolitical and business overview of South Korea. Governor Dayton and the delegation will then attend a lunch, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, for a briefing on conducting business in South Korea. Governor Dayton and the Minnesota delegation will network with the American Chamber of Commerce board of directors and executives from Minnesota companies in South Korea, including Cargill, 3M and Medtronic.

Later in the afternoon, Governor Dayton will meet with Junki Kim, chairman of the Dongbu Group, at Dongbu headquarters.

The Minnesota delegation will attend a networking event hosted by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), which is the largest business association in South Korea. Mark Phillips, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, will make a presentation entitled "Investing in Minnesota," and members of the delegation will have business-to-business meetings with South Korean companies through KITA's matchmaking service.

That evening, Governor Dayton will meet with Seung Youn Kim, chairman of Hanwha Corp., and the delegation will have business meetings with Hanwha's agriculture, renewable energy and green technologies and lifesciences divisions. Following the meetings, the governor and delegation will have dinner with the chairman and other leaders of Hanwha.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Governor Dayton will meet with Jong-hoon Kim, minister of trade in the Republic of Korea.

Governor Dayton will also meet with Chairman Keh-sik Min of Hyundai Heavy Industries and Vice Chairman Chul-Seak Shin of STX Corp.

In the evening, Governor Dayton, the Minnesota delegation and South Korean guests will attend a reception hosted by Ambassador Stephens in honor of Governor Dayton and the Minnesota delegation, at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Seoul.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Governor Dayton will host a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korea War Memorial to honor Minnesota's fallen soldiers.

Governor Dayton will host a lunch with Minnesota troops and their spouses stationed in Seoul, and will later tour the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

That evening, Governor Dayton will host members of the Minnesota delegation for a farewell reception.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Governor Dayton and the Minnesota delegation will depart Seoul and travel to Minneapolis.