Convocation: Martin Loken

Consul General Martin Loken serves as Canada’s senior representative in the Upper Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota. Canada and the U.S. enjoy a unique partnership as the closest of friends, partners and allies. Strong business links are an engine for economic growth for both countries. More than $1 million of goods and services cross the borders every minute of every day. During the past three years, two-way goods trade between Canada and the five-state region of the U.S. averaged $28.8 billion per year, supporting 343,800 U.S. jobs. Canada is by far the number one export customer for each of the five states. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of oil, natural gas, electricity and uranium to the U.S. The consulate’s business development team provides contact and advisory services to help Canadian companies make the most of opportunities for mutually beneficial trade, investment and technology partnerships in the region, while the political and public affairs team builds relationships with decision-makers and the media, promotes Canadian culture, and supports the study of Canada. Loken has previously been assigned to the Canadian Embassy in Prague and at Canada’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations in Geneva. In the course of several Ottawa-based assignments at the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, he has been responsible for a range of geographic and functional issues, including science and technology relations with Japan and global human rights. Serving in the Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch, he worked on several major trade agreements and negotiations, such as free trade talks with Colombia, Peru and the European Free Trade Association, as well as involvement with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Despite having a different history and culture, the United States and Canada share similar challenges. Loken contends that the United States has never had a more important ally than Canada. The title of his presentation was "Canada, Minnesota and the United States: A Vital Partnership."