The North Dakota Trade Office is finalizing its move to NDSU’s new Richard H. Barry Hall in downtown Fargo. The structure, which is being readied to hold its first classes this fall, will be home to the College of Business and the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.
Susan Geib, Trade Office executive director, and John Adams, vice president for finance and administration, signed a sublease agreement on Aug. 6. NDSU President Joseph A. Chapman and Tim Flakoll, Tri-College provost and director of downtown operations, also participated.
Chapman said having the Trade Office located in the state-of-the-art Richard H. Barry Hall will benefit NDSU, the Trade Office and the citizens of the state.
“Having the Trade Office here is really an exciting opportunity for our students,” Chapman said. “It is going to allow our students on a day-to-day basis to interact directly with their future trading partners from all over the world. That is going to be an enormous educational opportunity for them, and it will have tremendous benefit for the Trade Office because when they bring people here, they are going to have the vibrancy of an academic building in which to do business.”
Geib said the office’s 10-member staff will begin moving into its new quarters late this month, with plans for the Trade Office to begin operations on Sept. 1.
“This facility really lends itself to a global community,” Geib said of Richard H. Barry Hall. “We will have global teleconferencing – in fact, three days after we move in, we are inviting all our Big Iron exporters here for a video conference with four countries. They’ll discuss the 120 buyers they’ve recruited to come to North Dakota for the Big Iron farm show.”
Geib said there are many potential international trade partners, including the cattle industry in Kazakhstan, planning to consult with NDSU faculty members.
“The fact that we are across the hall from international agribusiness and MBA students is going to be a very nice synergy and ability to bring things forward,” Geib said. “This just raises the bar to a totally new level and our team is more than excited and motivated to participate in this.”
“We’ve worked hard to create partnerships between private industries and our universities to foster economic growth, and the Trade Office’s move to Richard H. Barry Hall is another step in that direction,” said Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who chairs the Trade Office board of directors. “As part of the International Studies program, the Trade Office will be able to benefit both businesses and students by giving them the resources and skills they need to compete in a global economy and build on North Dakota’s growing presence in the world marketplace.”