Florida faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform its economy by becoming a global hub for trade. While some labor unions and protestors are occupying space to protest against the free market and American businesses, the Florida Chamber is committed to securing Florida’s future by doubling Florida-origin exports over the next five years.
The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade and Logistics Study indicates several trends will position Florida for a larger, more commanding role as a trade hub in the next decade, including the state’s location in the fastest growing U.S. business and consumer market at the crossroads of growing north-south and east-west trade lanes.
Florida currently has more than 55,000 companies exporting goods and services in the global marketplace and the Florida Chamber is leading the effort to expand Florida’s trade and export opportunities. We are committed to substantially increasing the number of both domestic and international exports as we work toward making Florida a global hub for trade and investment.
In order to meet the goal of doubling Florida-origin exports over the next five years, we must focus the attention of state policy makers on the importance of international trade.
To become directly engaged in this effort, please consider joining our International Business Committee.
Florida’s premier trade organizations have come together April 14 through May 26, 2012 to celebrate Florida’s role in the global marketplace. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida and World Trade Center Miami have joined forces to partner with the State of Florida, local governments, chambers or commerce, economic development organizations and trade organizations located throughout the State to promote events that focus on Florida’s role in international trade and the impact that two-way trade has on the whole State of Florida. Check the calendar for events that may be coming up in your community.
Florida Chamber President & CEO Mark Wilson dedicated April’s edition of Voice of Reason to international trade opportunities.
Florida Governor Rick Scott signed this proclamation in recognition of the important role international commerce plays in Florida’s current and future economy.
Many local chamber of commerce issue certificates of origin on behalf of Florida exporters who are required to provide assurance to foreign buyers that the goods they are purchasing originated in the United States. The following local chambers issue certificates of origin:
Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches
Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce
Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Weston Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce
Hallandale Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
South Lake Chamber of Commerce
Greater Tampa Terrace Chamber of Commerce
Sanibel/Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce
West Orange Chamber of Commerce
Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce
Manatee Chamber of Commerce
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce
Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
Northern Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce
indiantown-Western Martin County Chamber of Commerce
Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce
Florida Governor Rick Scott addresses attendees at the 2012 International Days event in Tallahassee, FL, Feb. 7, 2012. Click the image to visit the International Days Webcast gallery.
A stable and predictable business climate allowing Florida’s free enterprise system to create private-sector jobs will strengthen and diversify Florida’s economy. Reducing burdensome regulations, offering job creation incentives and cultivating a reputation as a business-friendly state are efforts the Florida Chamber has lead to help secure Florida’s future and they are among the leading economic development bills passed during the 2012 Legislative Session.
Freight Mobility and Seaport Funding (HB 5001/SB 1998/HB 599)
Strengthening Florida’s role as a global hub for trade, logistics and export-oriented activities, lawmakers passed Florida Chamber-backed legislation that will help secure Florida’s future by making substantial investments in seaport infrastructure.
This session, lawmakers took significant steps to capitalize on opportunities outlined in the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade and Logistics Study. To modernize Florida’s seaports, lawmakers invested more than $150 million in seaport projects, created a Strategic Port Investment Initiative program that targets Florida’s trade and logistics development goals, and created an Intermodal Logistics Center Infrastructure Support Program to build and improve roads, railways and shipment infrastructure.
Additionally, a measure sponsored by Rep. Ray Pilon (R-Sarasota) requires the Florida Department of Transportation to develop a Statewide Seaport and Waterways System Plan and a Freight Mobility and Trade Plan. Both plans will position Florida to capitalize on new trade opportunities emerging from the widening of the Panama Canal as well as growing economies in Central and South America.
This bill passed the full House and Senate and is expected to be signed by Governor Scott.
Florida’s ports — especially those with large cargo operations stretching from JaxPort in the north to PortMiami and Port Everglades in South Florida and Port of Tampa on the West Coast — are poised to capture new trade opportunities. But we can only do so if strategic capital investments are coupled with an integrated statewide network of trade gateways, logistic centers and transportation corridors.
Building on an aggressive multi-year jobs agenda, the Florida Legislature supported 25 Florida Chamber-backed pro-business, pro-jobs bills – further reducing the cost of doing business, the number of burdensome regulations for Florida’s job creators and reforming Florida’s fraudulent auto insurance (PIP) system.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce strongly supports efforts to increase commerce at Florida seaports as part of our goal to double Florida-origin exports over the next five years. The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade and Logistics Study in 2010 makes recommendations for the state to position itself as a global hub for exports, trade and logistics [...]
