The Minnesota-Canada business relationship is large, dynamic, and very important to both countries. Merchandise trade now exceeds $20 billion annually, and the flow of people, services, technical cooperation and other cross-border links is also significant. Minnesota exports a rich mixture of products to its northern neighbour, totalling more than its next three largest export destinations combined. Almost 150,000 jobs in the state are supported by the Canada-US trading relationship. In turn, Canada’s exports to Minnesota are large and diversified, with Canada’s reliable and secure energy supplies being especially important This strong and longstanding business partnership is a central element of being each other’s most important neighbour, friend and ally. It also creates a fertile and stimulating environment for the Canada-Minnesota Business Council (CMBC), created in 1994 to carry out the following objectives: • Help build and maintain commercial and economic relationships between Canada and Minnesota • Provide information about the Canadian business climate to the business community in Minnesota • Provide a networking forum for Minnesota firms interested in Canada and for Canadian firms interested in Minnesota