Midwest U.S.-Japan Association to hold its trade conference in Minnesota
Next week's conference will bring Japanese businesses to the Twin Cities metro for the first time in nearly three decades, the Business Journal reports. Gov. Mark Dayton and former Vice President and Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale are among those scheduled to speak during the event at the Minneapolis Hilton Sept. 16-18.
In 2011, Japan was Minnesota's third largest export market -- behind Canada and China.
The state's exports broke a record in the second quarter this year, reaching $5.4 billion.