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The following is an excerpt from the article, Alexandria College leaders travel with Walz to Australia, by Al Edenloff, Echo Press.

Walz said one of the primary goals of this trade mission is to establish new relationships with businesses in key industries, including medical technology, clean technology, higher education, and agriculture.

This will be Minnesota’s first-ever trade mission to Australia.

When contacted the day before the trip, Seymour noted that Alexandria Technical and Community College is renowned as one of the top two-year colleges in Minnesota, and the college hopes to share the benefits of hands-on education and personalized instruction with education leaders in Australia.

“We are honored to have been selected to join the mission alongside colleagues from St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota,” Seymour said. “With the addition of athletics, student housing, and student life opportunities, Alexandria College is becoming a destination for students across the U.S. and around the world.”

Seymour added that international students enhance the learning environment for all by bringing global perspectives to the classroom. About 3,900 students from Australia studied in the U.S. in 2021-2022.

“Our goal is to explore opportunities to develop a study abroad pipeline to attract students to ATCC,” Seymour said.

Australia ranks among the top five sending countries of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligible athletes to the United States, Seymour said.

“The athletic offerings at ATCC are some of the most popular sports in Australia, and our participation in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) provides students additional opportunities to compete beyond high school,” Seymour said.

“We will discuss academic best practices with Australian technical and community colleges to share our insights and learn from other higher education leaders, and to gain a better understanding of Australia’s skilled workforce needs,” Seymour said. “Skilled workforce in manufacturing and transportation are in high demand in Australia. These are signature programs of ATCC.”

ATCC will be working to forge partnerships with Australian high schools to promote study abroad opportunities and share the uniqueness of Minnesota and the Alexandria community, Seymour said.

“Minnesota has a lot to offer Australia – cutting-edge technologies that are curing diseases and combating climate change, innovative research institutions, and agricultural products that are feeding the globe,” said Gov. Walz in a news release about the trip. “We know how beneficial a strong relationship between Minnesota and Australia can be in creating jobs, promoting new investment in Minnesota, and strengthening trade agreements. We look forward to promoting Minnesota, our companies, and our workers on the global stage.”

“The Minnesota-Australia relationship presents tremendous opportunities for Minnesota businesses looking for new customers, and Australian companies looking to invest in the North American market,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “With strong trade between our countries, a virtually zero-tariff free trade agreement and few societal, legal and language barriers, Australia is a natural, receptive, and important market for Minnesota goods and services.”

“Minnesota’s farmers help feed the world, and we rely on strong relationships with international partners to accomplish this,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “That’s why it’s important for us to travel to Australia and demonstrate our value as leaders in agriculture. We have an opportunity to build these new and lasting relationships that will benefit both Australia and Minnesotans across the state.”

Australia is a large market for Minnesota, and there is significant room to grow, Walz said.

Minnesota’s total trade in goods with Australia in 2022 was valued at $579 million, with exports of $438 million and imports of $141 million. Australia was Minnesota’s 13th largest market for goods and 19th largest market for agricultural products last year.

The U.S. is Australia’s second-largest two-way trade partner, the largest investor in Australia and Australia’s largest foreign investment destination. Trade between the two countries – valued at $46 billion last year – has grown 14% since 2021. Australia’s business culture is straightforward and low barrier: it offers a familiar legal and corporate framework, sophisticated consumer and industrial sectors and shares English as the primary language.

As part of the trade mission, Walz and Minnesota leaders will meet with Australian companies looking to buy goods from North America, promote Minnesota as a place for business investment, meet with local elected leaders, and facilitate business-to-business negotiations for Minnesota companies traveling in the delegation.