Gov. Rick Scott and Enterprise Florida are heading next to Israel, which does more than $200 million a year in trade with the Sunshine State.
Scott, who teamed with Enterprise Florida to attend a tourism conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last month, announced Tuesday he is off with the Orlando-based public-private economic development organization to Israel for a similar trade mission in December.
"We've got to do more international trade, and these trips really work," Scott said during a morning phone interview on Trey Radels radio show on 92.5 FOX in Southwest Florida. "Next month I'm going to Israel ... we have a big opportunity to do more trade with them.
Scotts office deferred comment on the Dec. 8-14 mission to Enterprise Florida.
Enterprise Florida spokesman Stuart Doyle said details of the mission continue to be crafted, nor is a list available of those joining Scott.
Normally, at this point in the game, the agenda isnt even finalized, Doyle said.
According to Enterprise Florida, Floridas top exports to Israel are: motor vehicles, $26.5 million; aviation engines and parts, $8.7 million; fruit juice, $4.5 million; oil, not crude, $2.3 million; and yachts and other pleasure craft, $1.9 million.
In terms of tourism, Israelis coming to Florida ticked up 17.9 percent from 2009 to 2010, attracting 41,100 visitors in 2010 who spent an estimated $31.9 million.
This will be Scotts fourth foreign excursion since taking office in January.
Scott went to Canada in June and Panama in March.
The governor claimed the trip to Montreal and Toronto netted more than 200 jobs, while the Panama junket was strictly focused on convincing Panamanians that Florida ports will be ready and able to take on the behemoth Panamax ships once the Panama Canal widening is completed in 2014.
After visiting Sao Paulo, where he headed an Enterprise Florida delegation of 187, Scott said that more than $60 million in contracts were signed by organizations that went on the trip.
The goal of the mission was to boost the states $13.7 billion a year economic infusion from its biggest South American trading partner.
The idea for the Israel trip was floated last month. Read more here.
Israeli companies with operations in Florida included the following: Bank Hapoalim Bm, Gazit-Globe Ltd., Bank Leumi Le Israel Bm. Hazera Genetics Ltd., Commtouch Software Inc., Israel Discount Bank Ltd., Cvidya Networks Ltd., Ituran Location and Control Ltd., ECI Telecom Ltd., Medingo Ltd., El Al Israel Airlines Ltd., Mind Lab Group, Elbit Systems Ltd., Tevteva Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited, Galtronics Ltd., Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
Florida companies with operations in Israel include: Airspan Networks Inc., Allen Systems Group Inc., Arthur Murray International Inc., Burger King HoldingsInc., ECI Telecom Inc., Office Depot Inc.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859 or (772) 215-9889.
