Delegation from South Dakota taking trade mission trip to East Asia this month

Later this month (June 2024), Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden will lead a group of six companies, three industry associations, and leadership from South Dakota State University to Japan and Taiwan. South Dakota Trade and South Dakota Biotech are jointly coordinating the trade mission where participants will have the opportunity to conduct business-to-business matchmaking meetings and showcase their products at one of five concurrently-held trade shows in Taipei:

·        Bio/Pharmatech Taipei;

·        Food Taipei;

·        Foodtech Taipei;

·        Taipei Pack (Taipei International Packaging Show); and

·        Taiwan Horcea (Taiwan International Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering Show).

“Our delegation represents some of our state’s most promising industries.” Said Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden. “We have great biotechnology, food, and manufacturing opportunities all happening right here in South Dakota. Japan & Taiwan are two important markets for these products and also key allies of the United States.”

In addition to Lt. Governor Rhoden the delegation also includes:

·        Hunter Roberts, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources;

·        Jesse Fonkert, Deputy Commissioner, Governor’s Office of Economic Development;

·        Dr. Joe Cassady, SD Corn Endowed Dean, SDSU College of Agriculture, Food, & Environmental Sciences;

·        Joni Ekstrum, Executive Director, South Dakota Biotech;

·        Jerry Schmitz, Executive Director, South Dakota Soybean;

·        Doug Ode, Board Member, Midwest Dairy;

·        Tim Houghton, Vice President, H-S Precision;

·        Gordon Ommen, Founder & Principal, Black Fork Farms;

·        Joe Beck, Executive Director of Corporate Development, Viaflex;

·        Dennis Harstad, Vice President of Operations, Houdek;

·        Rob Hrabe, Chief Executive Officer, & Gentry Boswell, Vice President Business Development, VRC Metal Systems; and

·        Ron Rensberger, President, Rensberger Technologies.

“South Dakota makes the best products in the world, and I’m proud to say that our delegation comes from all across the state,” said Luke Lindberg, President & CEO of South Dakota Trade. “It is our job to put willing buyers and willing sellers in the same room — that’s where the deals get done — and that’s what we’re planning to do.”

The delegation will be in Japan from June 23-25 and Taiwan June 26-29, 2024.