The top Canadian diplomat to the upper Midwest visited Pierre in celebration of Canada Day. Consul General Jamshed Merchant addressed South Dakota Senators and Representatives. Merchant says Canada and the United States share a common heritage and cultural values making the two countries friends and allies.
"And we’re not just friends but we are also partners," says Merchant, "And we are partners because we share the largest economic relationship between any two countries in the world. Canada is the largest export customer for South Dakota and over 34 other states."
Merchant says South Dakotan and Canadian trade amounts to 1.2 billion dollars every year contributing to just over 28,000 jobs in the state. Merchant says this two-way trade fuels innovation and economic growth. Canadians also contribute to the state’s economy through tourism. Merchant says over 200,000 Canadians visited South Dakota last year spending 45 million dollars in the state.