Consul General Discusses SD-Canada Partnership

Air Date:01/24/2011

By Kealey Bultena

The area’s top Canadian diplomat spent time at the Capitol Monday, talking with both the state Senate and House of Representatives. The Consul General discusses Canada’s relationship with South Dakota.

Martin Loken is the highest ranking Canadian official in the upper Midwest. He explains how Canada is paying attention to what’s happening within South Dakota’s borders.

"South Dakota overall is doing very well economically, and this is something that we recognize," Loken says. "I think you have a good outward orientation in terms of understanding how important the world economy is and the opportunities for South Dakota firms to engage and profit from that, whether it’s in the agricultural sector or whether it’s in manufactured goods, services, research and development, what have you, there’s a lot of opportunities to work together for the benefit of both countries."

Loken says Canada buys more than a third of all goods South Dakota exports, and more than 100-thousand Canadian tourists visit the state each year. The Consul General says Canada hopes to continue and improve its relationship with South Dakota.

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