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Toward New Horizons - Introduction
2007-11-04
Increasing globalization of the world’s economy, opportunities for expanded export of food products, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and ongoing discussion regarding a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas place the heartland of North America within a new era as a geographic crossroads for international trade. In the next decade, the Northern Great Plains region will certainly need to identify and develop new export markets for its manufactured goods, shift its agricultural export focus from bulk commodities to export of food products, biofuels, or other biologically based industrial products, and provide expanded trade development services for rural businesses. But to fully participate in a growing and changing global economy, it will have to do more. In order to meet the challenges of a 21st century global economy, the Region will need to actively work to ensure that its transportation and information technologies infrastructure is capable of serving the international trade and transportation needs of the Region. And, it will need to build on its strength as a cross-border Region comprised of five states and two provinces with shared economic interests.
Full Report Chapters (PDF)
· Introduction (44.4K)o Acknowledgements o Preface
· Information Technology Trends (85K)
· Transportation Trends (423K)
· Agriculture and Natural Resources Trends (561K)
· Manufacturing Trends (186K)
· Energy and the Environment Trends (160K)
· Conclusion (18K)
· Endnotes (45K)
· Appendix ABCD (48K)
