Gov. Rick Scott and an entourage of nearly 200, from 116 Florida companies, left this weekend for a five-day trade mission with Enterprise Florida to Colombia, the states second largest trading partner.
The purpose is to build relationships with Florida business, so either we sell something to them or they invest something in our state, Scott said Friday before heading to Miami to begin the trip.
He noted that the state is also seeking to expand many of the existing business ties that range from aerospace to flowers, as well as advancing the states prospects to grow business with the growth of the Latin American economies and the pending expansion of the Panama Canal.
One of the biggest things that we get out of Colombia is flowers; a lot of it comes through the Port of Miami, Scott said.
What these do is, by going, ... create an opportunity for businesses to get together, he said. We get to do a conference and tell our story, it opens a lot of doors for people.
Florida, which already accounts for one-fourth of the total U.S. trade with Colombia, annually deals in more than $9 billion in bilateral trade with the nation.
Scott has led six other trade and business development missions since taking office, to Panama, Canada, Brazil, Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom
As some have questioned the immediate benefits of the missions, the governors office issued a release last week defending the long-range prospects of the six prior trade and business development missions.
Governors Business Development Mission to Panama
Panama City
March 17-18, 2011
The objective of this mission was to assess the opportunities from the Panama Canal expansion.
The delegation -- six Florida port directors, business leaders and executives from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Association of Manufacturers and Associated Industries of Florida enhanced Floridas economic relationship with Panama through strengthened ties between state leaders and the Republic of Panama and Florida seaports with the Panama Canal Authority.
Governors Business Development Mission to Canada
Montreal and Toronto
June 6-10, 2011
The objective of this mission was to promote investment into Florida.
Gov. Scott and Florida economic development organizations participated in 155 FDI (foreign direct investment) recruitment meetings.
Gov. Scott announced the Canadian security company Garda will relocate its U.S. headquarters to Boca Raton, Fla., creating 100 professional jobs, which has been exceeded.
Team Florida Trade and Business Development Mission to Brazil
S Paulo and S Jose dos Campos, Brazil
Oct. 22-27, 2011
The objective of this mission was to provide Florida companies with an opportunity to increase sales of their products and services.
Fifty-one Florida companies participated in a two-day Florida expo and matchmaking event with Brazilian businesses. The Florida companies reported more than $96,684,500 in actual and expected future sales.
Gov. Scott announced that Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer will invest $50 million to establish new manufacturing facilities at Melbourne Airport. The project is slated to produce more than 200 jobs over five years.
Governors Business Development Mission to Israel
Tel Aviv, Beersheva and Jerusalem
Dec. 8-15, 2011
The objective of this mission was to promote investment into Florida and promote Florida as a platform for Israeli companies into the U.S., Latin American and Caribbean market. The governor met with potential Israeli investors, delivered presentations on Florida business climate to Israeli business organizations and was a speaker in the GLOBES Conference. (GLOBES is the leading financial newspaper in Israel.)
Gov. Scott met with six Israeli companies that are investment or expansion prospects for Florida and spoke at the seminar Florida: Platform for Israeli Companies Doing Business in Latin America and the Caribbean, the audience for which included 45 Israeli business executives representing SMEs with an interest in penetrating the Latin American market.
Governors Business Development Mission to Spain
May 21-24, 2012
The objective of this mission was to promote Spanish investment into Florida.
Included nine events and 13 meetings with potential investment projects. Gov. Scott met Spanish companies interested in investing in Florida and delivered presentations on Florida business climate to several Spanish business organizations.
The following companies based in Spain will add 465 jobs within three years in Miami-Dade County:
o Obrascon Huarte Lain (OHL USA), one of the world's largest global construction companies, is expanding its presence in the U.S. market by adding a new U.S. South Region headquarters in northwest Miami-Dade County. Specializing in civil engineering, health care and university projects, OHL's new location will add 255 direct jobs within three years and $22 million in capital investment.
o Miami City Tour (formerly El Grupo Juli, a travel and tourism transportation company, will open its first U.S. location in Miami Beach, adding 150 new direct jobs within three years and $4 million in capital investment.
o TotalBank, a leading integrated retail-commercial bank in South Florida and a member of Grupo Banco Popular Espal, will further expand in Miami-Dade County, adding 10 new branches with 60 direct jobs within three years and $4 million in capital investment. TotalBank is already a leading integrated retail commercial bank in South Florida with more than $2.3 billion in assets and 19 convenient locations throughout Miami-Dade County.
o BBVA, a Spain-based retail bank that entered the Florida marketplace through acquiring Compass bank, has 45 full-service branches in the Jacksonville area along with loan production offices in Orlando and Miami. This bank is expanding in the Miami market by offering domestic private banking and wealth management services. BBVA will add 45 jobs at an average wage of $60,000 annually
Team Florida Business Development Mission to United Kingdom
London and Farnborough, England
July 7-12, 2012
The goal of this mission was to promote worldwide investment into Florida and further develop the states aviation cluster through access to the aviation and aerospace companies attending the biannual Farnborough Airshow.
Gov. Scott and EFI recruitment staff met with more than 40 major aviation and seven aerospace companies with investment potential in Florida.
Trade show participants reported $41 million in combined actual and expected export sales for the next 24 months and 250 sales leads.
Following this mission, Gov. Scott announced that Pratt & Whitney will create 230 new jobs at an average wage of $81,000 as part of its efforts to
establish jet engine manufacturing and test operations in Palm Beach County.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
