Gabriel Silva, Colombias ambassador to the United States, expects to see rapid growth in exports from Florida due to the recently approved free-trade agreement between the countries.

However, he told business leaders at the Florida Chamber of Commerces International Days held at Florida State University on Wednesday that both nations must quickly grasp the opportunities because the Panama Canal expansion will soon be completed. Colombia has 69 other free-trade agreements in place and four more in the works.

Backed up by the League of Women Voters, a Republican challenger to state Sen. Andy Gardiner charges that a "gerrymandered" new district map favors the incumbent in violation of the state Constitution.

"There is a 'back alley' that is used to attain parts of Winter Park into District 10. The incumbent living in Winter Park obviously wants to 'pinch in' his home address to acquire certain voters," said Ron Rushing, who is seeking to unseat Gardiner, R-Orlando, this year.

While real estate and construction remain down, state leaders Tuesday touted how international trade has helped Florida's economy recover.

Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida, speaking as part of a panel at the Florida Chamber of Commerce International Days conference at Florida State University, said international travelers account for nearly 10 percent of the states top import: tourists.

Floridas much-traveled governor is expected to focus on Asia for at least one trade mission in 2013.

With trade missions to Spain and Colombia, along with a summer trade exhibition planned for England in the works for this year, Gov. Rick Scott may be the states first governor to visit Japan and South Korea since former Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1997.

You can rest assured that Florida will become much more active in Korea in the years to come, Manny Mencia, Enterprise Florida's senior vice president of international business development, said Tuesday.

To see Sunshine State News' continuing series, "The Ports of Florida," see here.

Following four foreign missions last year, and with trips in the works for Spain and the United Kingdom, Enterprise Florida is now setting up plans for a Gov. Rick Scott-led trade mission to Colombia, one of the states largest trading partners.

And while no formal announcement for the end-of-year trip to South America has been made, word of the endeavor couldnt be timelier.

The Republican Party of Florida says Democrats are playing politics with the state's process to redraw voting districts to accommodate a growing population -- districts that were approved in the House in a party-line vote Friday.

Nearly one-third of House members would have to square off against a fellow incumbent in the fall unless they seek to run for a different district or office if the new districts are eventually approved and survive expected court challenge.

Opponents of the effort to expand casino gaming in Florida declared victory Friday, but anticipate they will next have to fend off an effort to put gambling venues into the states Constitution.

Dan Gelber, chairman of No Casinos, said with casino-giant Genting Group having spent $624,000 on just political contributions through December, the proposal to allow the construction of nontribal mega-casinos isnt going away.

With the pending expansion of the Panama Canal on the horizon, and an eye on a free Cuba, Port Manatee is bristling with opportunities as executives have created a special economic development zone on neighboring land that is hoped to double and even triple capacity in the coming decades.

Similar to enterprise zones that offer incentives to businesses, the port has crafted a 5,000-acre encouragement zone that has so far drawn interest from at least seven companies that would serve as port-related distribution centers.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney wants the White House to reconsider changing the role of combat troops in Afghanistan after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declared the U.S. focus would shift to a noncombat role by next year.

I respectfully urge our commander in chief to reconsider this premature announcement and base any changes in our Afghanistan strategy on the situation on the ground, stated Rooney, R-Tequesta, a member of the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, in a release on Thursday.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is backing American Airlines in its bankruptcy restructuring, with an emphasis on protecting the companys more than 9,000 employees in South Florida, while criticizing federal regulations that interfere with recovery efforts.

Every job that American Airlines saves and keeps in Florida will help with Floridas economic development and further our states growing international trade activity, Mark Wilson, Chamber president and CEO, stated in a release.