Minnesota Agencies

Facilitate and support Minnesota World Trade Center programs and services and promote the Minnesota World Trade Center.

The Legislature established the World Trade Center Board in 1984. In 1987, the Legislature reworked the entity, establishing the World Trade Center Corporation, governed by a board of directors.

In 1999, the Legislature transferred the work of the World Trade Center Corporation to the Trade Office within the Department of Trade and Economic Development (see Laws of Minn. 1999, chap. 223, art. 2, sec. 28, 66)

The World Trade Center Corporation is governed by a board of directors consisting of:

• four members, representing the international business community, elected to three-year terms by the association of members established under section 44A.023, subdivision 2, clause (5);
• four members, representing the international business community, appointed by the governor, to serve at the governor's pleasure;
• the mayor of St. Paul or the mayor's designee;
• the commissioners of trade and economic development, agriculture, and commerce;
• the director of the office of technology; and
• three members of the house appointed by the speaker of the house and three members of the senate appointed under the rules of the senate, who serve as nonvoting members.

One member from each house must be a member of the minority party of that house. Legislative members are appointed at the beginning of each regular session of the legislature for two-year terms. A legislator who remains a member of the body from which the legislator was appointed may serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. A vacancy in a legislator member's term is filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. Members appointed by the governor must be knowledgeable or experienced in international trade in products or services.