[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced seven companies received Governor's International Trade Awards and International Investment Awards for their leadership in global trade and investment.

"International trade is a key driver in growing our economy and expanding our job market," said Governor Walz. "These seven companies have made an extraordinary impact not only here at home, but on the global stage – strengthening and growing our state's economy. I'm proud to recognize these companies for their progress and contributions to Minnesota."

This year's recipients of the Governor's International Trade Awards and International Investment Awards are:

• DigiKey, Thief River Falls; 
• East View Companies, Minneapolis;
• Microbiologics, Inc., St. Cloud; 
• Milk Specialties Global, Eden Prairie; 
• MINPACK, Inc., Pine City; 
• ThermaSolutions, White Bear Lake;
• Rosenbauer, Wyoming (International Investment Award honoree).

The Governor's International Trade Awards honor companies that have shown extraordinary progress and success in exports to foreign markets, as well as foreign-owned companies that have made significant economic contributions through their investments in Minnesota.

"The Governor's inaugural trade mission to Australia last month was just the most recent in a years-long series of efforts to strengthen our economy through trade," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "We are proud to recognize and award these seven companies for their monumental contributions to Minnesota's international business community and the state economy."

"Milk Specialties Global has been a true leader in helping establish and expand international market opportunities for Minnesota agricultural products, and we congratulate them on this well-deserved honor," said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. "Minnesota's ag exports continue to reach new heights, totaling a record $10 billion in 2022, and we look forward to working with all international trade partners to meet the increasing global demand for products grown and made in our state."

"As the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) celebrates its 40th anniversary, we are mindful of the dramatic changes that have occurred in global engagement and doing business internationally since the MTO was established in 1983," said MTO Executive Director Gabrielle Gerbaud. "It's an honor to recognize the incredible efforts and accomplishments by the award recipients, as well as the MTO's work during the past four decades and dedication to supporting the state's exporters and attracting foreign investment."

The 2023 Governor's International Trade Award Recipients:

DigiKey (Large Company: Any Industry Sector) is an e-commerce distributor of electronic components and automation products that has been located in Thief River Falls since 1972. Digikey offers more than 17.2 million components from over 2,800 quality name-brand manufacturers and does business in 27 different currencies and offers websites and content in 22 different languages. The company employs more than 5,000 people in Northwest Minnesota and beyond, and delivers over 27,000 orders per day to customers in more than 180 countries around the world.

East View Companies (Services: Small- to Medium-sized Company) specializes in acquiring uncommon information from extraordinary places. Formed in 1989, East View sources newspapers, books, peer reviewed journals, census data, travel guides, satellite imagery, maps, and more from around the world. It also creates subscription databases and bespoke creations for customers that include higher education, the United States Government and allied nations, and multi-national corporations in numerous industries.

Microbiologics, Inc. (Manufactured Goods: Small- to Medium-Sized Company) partners with healthcare and life science laboratories, manufacturers, and suppliers across the globe to co-create and provide biological reference materials, assay services and consult for microbiology, molecular diagnostics and virology. Located in St. Cloud, Microbiologics' catalog of 2,600 infectious disease quality control products are sold through a network of more than 160 distribution partners serving 142 countries across the globe.

Milk Specialties Global (Agricultural Commodities/Processed Food: Any Size Company) was founded in the 1940s and was an early pioneer in reclaiming and drying whey leftover from the cheesemaking process. Today, MSG owns 12 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and is one of the largest protein and dairy ingredients manufacturers on the globe. Headquartered in Eden Prairie, MSG exported to 42 countries on six continents in 2022.

MINPACK, Inc. (Services: Small to Medium-Sized Company) began operations in 1968 manufacturing 3M Microfilm Aperture Cards. MINPACK, Inc. as we know it today was founded in 2005 and continues to manufacture paper and film products for the global office supply and medical markets, while broadening its technology in manufacturing, converting, assembly, packaging and printing solutions. MINPACK began working with Sprout Denmark in 2014 to manufacture its plantable pencils that grow into herbs, vegetables, flowers, and even spruce trees. More than 40 million pencils have been sold across 80 countries.

Rosenbauer (International Investment Award) was founded in 1866 and is the world's largest producer of firefighting vehicles and solutions. With over 4,000 employees worldwide, the company produces more than 3,000 vehicles every year and operates in 150 countries. Rosenbauer America, previously known as General Safety Equipment, was founded in 1929, and joined Rosenbauer International in 1995. The Minnesota campus has 450 employees in Wyoming, Minn. 

ThermaSolutions (Manufactured Goods: Small- to Medium-Sized Company) is a global leader in Hyperthermic medical technology used in cancer treatment, with a primary focus on Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedures. ThermaSolutions has been intricately and consistently involved in cancer treatment, partnering with physicians worldwide in six continents and over 50 countries, working with oncology centers, universities, and hospitals throughout the world. Recently, ThermaSolutions launched their newest development in cancer treatment – the HurriChem, which is used in Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy (PIPAC) procedures.