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Newsletter Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Florida
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Issue 06
Volume 4
June 2013
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Greetings!
summer is here! Living in Florida long enough I have learned that summer means totally something different than to our friends in Finland. Summer means unbearable heat and more time spent inside where A/C brings some comfort. For the Finns it means end of the long winter and being able to extend your living room to your backyard.
It is the same in business, there are at least two ways to see one thing. Once misfortune is once opportunity. In the housing market the opportunities are still here, companies still keep moving their HQs to Florida and creating more employment opportunities for all. That's summer to us!
At your service,
Lena Hartikainen
FACC-FL President
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News from Florida
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South Florida homebuyers break even in 2 years
A first-quarter study by the real estate website showed that Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties tied with Detroit for the nation's shortest break-even point, beyond which buying becomes cheaper than renting. Read the article here.
Hertz picks Lee County as new home for world headquarters
Hertz Global Holdings, the world's largest airport/general-use car rental company, plans to move its world headquarters from New Jersey to southwest Florida. The Fortune 500 company will bring 700 jobs to the Sunshine State. Read the article here.
Florida boasts 15 companies large enough to make 2013 Fortune 500
Fifteen Florida-based companies appear on the 2013 Fortune 500 list of the nation's biggest companies with publicly disclosed revenues. Read more here.
Coca-Cola Co. partnership to plant 25,000 acres of citrus in Florida
Coca-Cola Co. said it will support what's thought to be the largest planting of citrus trees in Florida in 25 years, with a commitment to purchase about $2 billion worth of oranges from the new groves. Read more here.
Immigration reform may help real estate sales
The bill would allow foreigners who purchase $500,000 or more worth of property, maintain ownership, reside in the U.S. for more than six months a year and who are at least 55 years old to apply for a visa that would permit them to stay in the U.S. year-round. Read the article here.
South Florida's luxury home market sizzles
As South Florida's housing market continues posting solid price gains, the luxury end is leading the charge with one record breaking sale after another. Read more here. Consumer confidence in Florida back to pre-recession levels
Floridians' consumer confidence rose another two points in May to 81 - a third straight month of increases for a post-recession high, according to a University of Florida survey. Read the article here.
Micro-businesses booming in U.SThe number of businesses without paid employees in the U.S. rose 1.7 percent to 22.5 million in 2011, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. This marks the second straight increase in nonemployer businesses, with all but two states (Louisiana and New Hampshire) posting gains from 2010 to 2011. Read more here.
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News from Finland
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Gaming industry draws foreign talent to Helsinki region
Turning to the electronic gaming industry, more and more foreign companies are interested in setting up branch offices in Helsinki. Finnish firms also employ many foreigners, with about one-third of workers at major gaming companies from abroad. Read more here.
Bioethanol, a fuel produced from waste, also fits the bill of meaningful work
RE85 marks a breakthrough in the development of environmentally friendly liquid fuels. The biowaste-based ethanol component in the fuel reduces fossil emissions from road traffic by up to 80 per cent. Read the article here.
Finnish healthcare technology has global appeal
Demand for Finnish healthcare technology is booming as exports reach record levels and growth prospects look good. In 2012, the sector's industry exports rose 22.8 per cent on the previous year, equaling EUR 1.65 billion, reveal the latest published figures. Read more here.
Raute strengthens its foothold in the USA with co-operation
Raute is strengthening its foothold in the USA markets. The Finnish technology and service company has signed an agency agreement with Veneer Services of Indianapolis, Indiana in the USA. Under the agreement Veneer Services will offer Raute's technology to hardwood veneer and plywood producers in the USA and Canada. Article here.
Enterprise Helsinki Opens NewCo Factory For Startup Incubation
NewCo Factory, a new incubator project created by the City of Helsinki, is already up and running to help next-generation entrepreneurs get started right in the heart of Helsinki. Operated by EnterpriseHelsinki, NewCo Factory aims to accelerate creation of new startups with international growth potential in Helsinki by giving business idea owners, professional talent and investors an opportunity to find each other. Read more here.
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New Member Introduction
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Amer Trading INC. is a licensed South Floridian car dealer since 1991.
Amer Trading INC. sells and exports cars, salvage cars, car parts, and motorcycles
worldwide. In recent years they have extended services to include buying vehicles directly to customers, handling, transporting and shipping and more of all accommodating individual needs. Amer Trading INC. purchases from multiple auctions, including Ebay, Mannheim and Copart to name a few. Showcars, projects and damaged vehicles are all moved smoothly to their destination. To learn more about Amer Trading INC, please visit their website. |
What we can learn from Finnish Education System? | |
According to Newsweek Magazine and Huffington Post, Finland is in first place in the analysis of educational systems.
Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Florida together with West Palm Beach State College invited Dr. Pasi Sahlberg Director General for the Centre for International Mobility, Ministry of Education and Culture, in Finland to speak about why the Finnish Education System produces students ranked first worldwide in education for Mathematics and the Sciences.
If you missed this event now you have chance to see it!
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A conversation with Dr. Pasi Sahlbeg, February 7th, 2013,
Palm Beach State College
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FACC Coming Events
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Board of Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Florida gathered together for the annual Brainstorming meeting where events for the next twelve months were planned. The board has worked very hard in providing its member base relevant events networking opportunities and bringing in interesting speakers.
The members are encourage to join us in organizing, sponsoring and executing these events to maximize your exposure to the business community.
Mark your calendar with the preliminary plan:
- June Networking event, possibly Bowling
- September Lecture about Obama Care
- November Lecture with a Business theme - Technology/Life Science
- January 2014 Welcome to Florida, Tervetuloa Floridaan
- February Lecture about Finnish Education (CIMO)
- March Lecture about Taxation/Immigration
- April Palm Beach Strategic Forum
- May ABICC Inauguration of the year
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Partner Trade Events
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June 20-21, 2013
Miami, Florida
The Latin Trade Group presents Trade Am�ricas Expo in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank. With a growing middle class fueled by small and medium business, Latin America is a natural trading and business partner for the North American SME. Trade Am�ricas Expo brings a 360� look at trade by providing a platform for small and medium sized businesses, government trade agencies and important SME and PyMe market participants.One-on-One business matchmaking sessions with key experts and potential partners in the region for trade and investment is being offered to all companies interested. The business matchmaking component of the event will feature between 250-400 interested corporate executives from the U.S. and Latin America.
*Special Rate for Enterprise Florida Inc. Members of $399 per participant. Use ID Code: TAEFI1
The Water Expo
September 17-18, 2013
Miami Beach, Florida
The Water Expo is the only event in the United States providing access to the ever-growing, non-stoppable water related markets for all the Americas. With its unique marketing mix (USA + Latin America & the Caribbean), the Water Expo works as the one-stop, all-inclusive, interactive conference and marketplace on this extremely important resource, combining a major trade show with front edge extensive educational and networking programs serving the residential, commercial and industrial markets.
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Your AD HERE?
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The Finnish American Chamber of Commerce's Newsletter is a great opportunity to get your brand noticed and build a network of contacts for your business!
Member: $250/year and $50/month
Non-member: $500/year or $75/month
Please contact the FACC ([email protected]) for more information about advertising opportunities. |
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We hope you find this newsletter useful and we love to get feedback and suggestions how we can make it better. We also have many volunteer opportunities within the chamber so let us know how you want to be involved.
Sincerely,
Lena Hartikainen
Finnish American Chamber of Commerce
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