Florida's international trade
MIAMI, Fla. (April 10, 2018) – The recent Enterprise Florida-led export sales mission to San Jose, Costa Rica produced more than $23 million in total export sales for the 21 small and mid-sized businesses attending. The mission was held February 26 – March 1, 2018.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for United Technologies’ new UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings in Palm Beach County. This world-class facility showcases industry-leading building products, serves as a connected work space for employees, and is designed to be an environmentally sustainable building. The UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings has already created 380 jobs and, at the ceremony, Gov. Scott announced that UTC has committed to creating 100 additional jobs for a total of 480 jobs at this facility.
Miami, Fla. (April 25 2018) – Enterprise Florida will lead its first-ever Service Export Trade Mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil, from June 23 – 27, 2018. The mission will allow Florida small and mid-sized professional, transportation and financial service providers to meet with pre-qualified Brazilian companies and market their services. Brazil is Florida’s largest trade partner with bilateral trade of $19.8 billion in 2017, an increase of 9.4 percent over 2016.
What is happening in Florida’s economy?
Florida is home to nearly 60,000 exporters, the second highest number in the United States. In 2016, Florida companies exported more than $52 billion worth of goods to more than 200 countries around the world – making it the seventh-largest exporting state in the country. Another $38.5 billion worth of services were exported to overseas clients as well. Companies that export grow more quickly and are more resilient to economic downturns than those that do not.
(Enterprise Florida)
I first came to Orlando in 1984 to attend a military trade show. It was March and it was surprisingly chilly, but I decided to jog around the tourist area near the Wyndam Hotel that was hosting the event.
My perception was that Orlando was basically a haven for retirees and that the economy was dependent primarily on the tourist industry. Therefore, Disney was a large giant in a small town.
I returned in 1987 when I contracted with StratComm Media to move down from Arlington, VA, to be the company chief operating officer and to create a publication that would be called MoneyWorld. My view of Orlando didn’t change much during my one year contract. I focused on getting my MBA at Orlando College and then accepted a job in Cincinnati as the executive editor, then later as a group publisher of trade magazines. I finished my MBA by completing my capstone course and an elective in entrepreneurial consulting. But I kept my Longwood home, leasing it out long distance for 7 years until by wife died from cancer.
I accepted another one-year contract with another publication before deciding to return to Florida. I was pleased to see that Orlando had grown. But it had grown horizontal rather than vertical. I was surprised to see that the population had shifted to be more multiracial and multinational. But the economy was still very dependent upon the tourist trade.
Orlando’s evolution
In 2007 I was asked to teach at the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, MD. I thought it would be just a couple of years so we didn’t lease our home because we were in the middle of remodeling. My wife, Evi, and I returned the fall of 2014. I began reconnecting with veterans organizations and volunteered once more to join the Orange County Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Committee. It was then that I was invited to attend the 2015 Orange County Economic Summit that I realized that Orlando, Central Florida, and much of the state has evolved into one of the fastest growing economies in the United States despite the seven year negative trend in other parts of our country.
What has changed?
Florida has reached out to the world ... and the world had answered! Enterprise Florida sums up why Central Florida – and much of Florida – are able to go against the national trend and grow its economy while the rest of the country struggled:
Florida’s infrastructure:
Florida’s infrastructure supports more than 19.9 million residents and over 100 million tourists each year. From road to rail, to airports, seaports and spaceports, Florida will get your people, products and ideas to the world - fast. Florida’s Infrastructure is one of the world’s most extensive multi-modal transportation systems, featuring international airports, deep-water shipping ports, extensive highway U.S. to Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Worldwide Connectivity:
Florida is connected to the world in every possible way. From strong cultural and trade connections with Latin America to unmatched global reach via its modern ports and airports and its leadership in the budding space travel industry, Florida is a true global hub for business. The state is also recognized as one of the top five telecom hubs in the world. The Network Access Point (NAP) in Miami serves as a major switching station for Internet traffic coming to and from Latin America, while other high-speed networks, such as the Florida Lambda Rail and LA Grid facilitate R&D efforts. In addition, Florida has some of the fastest and most widely available wireless networks.
(Enterprise Florida)
So what?
How does this apply to your small business?
It means that if you have a product or service that may be useful to other countries you have an opportunity to significantly increase your customer base. It also means that you may be passing up an opportunity to get help preparing your product or service for export – including possible guidance, grants and other funding to help you prepare and market your product or service.
Where do you start?
Right here: https://www.enterpriseflorida.com/services/export-from-florida/