ST. PAUL — Brazil and South Korea are the latest countries where Minnesota officials are preparing to open trade offices.

The state Department of Employment and Economic Development on Monday advertised for contractors to help it open the offices in both places. They would fill out the roster of three new trade offices authorized by the Legislature.

By later this month, the state hopes to have a proposal for the office in Sao Paolo, Brazil that leaders hope will help Minnesota businesses tap into South American markets. Similarly, potential contractors must step forward before Christmas with plans for the Seoul, Korea office.

Both solicitations are subject to change.

While on a European trip last summer, Gov. Mark Dayton announced that the state would put a trade outpost in the Dusseldorf-Cologne area of Germany.