TRADE MIAMI DADE SEPTEMBER 2019

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Welcome to Trade Miami-Dade, the newsletter highlighting the activities of the  International Trade Consortium (ITC) Board of Directors and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) of Miami-Dade County. As the Chair of the ITC, I have the responsibility of engaging our local partners and making new commercial connections around the world. The advantages of using Miami-Dade County and its superb international trade resources for moving product to and from anywhere in the world are formidable. Our message is clear: come trade with us, and together we can make Miami-Dade prosper. We hope you enjoy Trade Miami-Dade, and that you will join us in promoting Miami-Dade County as the Global Gateway .

International Trade Consortium Chair, Commissioner Jose “Pepe" Diaz.

MAYOR GIMENEZ, COMMISSIONER JORDAN LEAD DELEGATION TO PARIS AIR SHOW

From June 16-20, 2019, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and Commissioner Barbara Jordan led a high-level Miami-Dade delegation to the 53 rd Paris International Air Show, with the objectives of the mission being to understand the latest trends and technologies in the aviation industry; to promote Miami-Dade County as a global gateway for international trade; and to strengthen trade, investment and cultural ties with France. Joining the Mayor and the Commissioner were representatives from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, PortMiami and the Beacon Council. France is the Miami Customs District 52’s 10 th largest trading partner and continues to be our top European trading partner. In 2018, total trade with France amounted to $2.9 billion (up 9%), and the region ranked as France’s 8 th most important gateway for U.S. trade. In 2018, civilian aircraft engines, equipment and parts were the top exports to France. Aircraft engines and engine parts was also the fastest-growing top import commodity (up 98% from 2017). France is one of the top foreign direct investment sources for South Florida. France has the 3 rd most multinational corporations, 49, among all foreign countries with a presence in Miami.   After attending the Paris Air Show, Mayor Gimenez travelled to Marseille, where he was hosted by the Honorable Jean-Claude Gaudin, mayor of Marseille. The delegation also met with investors and top executives from CMA-CGM, the third-biggest container shipping company in the world with headquarters in Marseille, France. On June 19, the delegation visited Station F, the world’s largest incubator for startups, located in Paris. The objective of the visit was to learn about best practices in the technology and innovation sector in France and foster possible collaboration on this sector.

Top: Mayor Gimenez and Commissioner Jordan at the Paris Air Show. Bottom: Mayor Gimenez with Marseille Mayor Gaudin

MIAMI-DADE SIGNS COOPERTIVE AGREEMENTS WITH SOUTHMAPTON, UK From June 12 to 14, Mayor Gimenez visited London and Southampton, UK, to learn about transport technologies of the future and to hear from companies with leading-edge solutions to local mobility challenges. While in Southampton, the Mayor signed an MOU with the City of Southampton calling for closer cooperation in the areas of trade, government and cultural ties, and PortMiami Director Juan Kuryla signed a sister seaport agreement with the Port of Southampton calling for collaboration between the two ports to enhance passenger and cargo flows.

COMMISSIONER SOUTO WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM PALIMENT OF CZECK REPUBLIC

On May 3, 2019, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier D. Souto welcomed a delegation of members of Parliament of the Czech Republic. The delegation was led by the Hon. Radek Vondráček, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament, and accompanied by the Czech Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Hynek Kmonicek. During the meeting with the 11-member Czech delegation, Commissioner Souto discussed opportunities for strengthening ties between South Florida and the Czech Republic in several areas. He also highlighted the strong political and cultural ties that exist between the Czech Republic and Miami-Dade and mentioned the Miami-Dade park named after Vaclav Havel and the Sister City Agreement with the City of Prague. The Czech delegation discussed their interest in exploring a direct air route service between Prague and Miami.

HAINAN PROVINCE, CHINA SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH MIAMI-DADE A group of 24 government officials from Hainan Province, China, visited Miami from July 15-19, 2019, seeking to develop closer ties with local businesses, educational institutions, and tourism and government officials. Hainan is an island located in the South China Sea and is the smallest and southernmost province of mainland China. It has a climate similar to Miami and is increasingly becoming a tourist destination, especially for medical tourism. OEDIT welcomed and briefed the delegation on Miami-Dade County’s international outreach efforts and assisted with their weeklong agenda. OEDIT arranged for briefings and tours with Enterprise Florida, PortMiami, the Beacon Council, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the Miami Heat (American Airlines Arena) and the GMCVB’s sports tourism division. Top right: Mr. Chris Allen, VP of global deployment and itinerary planning for Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, briefs the Hainan delegation at PortMiami on how cruise lines select ports of call. Bottom Right: Members of the delegation with Miami Heat coach at the American Airlines Arena.

DELEGATION OF STUDENTS FROM PERU VISIT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

A delegation of 20 international business students from the Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Peru, visited OEDIT offices on August 5, 2019. At the request of the Peruvian Trade Office, Manny Gonzalez briefed the group about Miami-Dade County, the role of Miami-Dade as a global gateway, the programs and services offered by OEDIT to facilitate trade growth, and the specifics and trends of the trade relationship between Peru and Miami-Dade. The students were also interested in learning about current and future business opportunities between the two trade partners. The group, which was hosted by the Consulate General of Peru in Miami, also visited PortMiami and Miami International Airport (MIA).

MOZAMBIQUE VISIT STRENGTHENS TIES WITH AFRICA A delegation from the Republic of Mozambique visited Miami-Dade County from September 9 to 14, 2019. The delegation was led by his Excellency Carlos dos Santos, Mozambique’s ambassador to the United States, and included top government officials from the Maputo City Council. Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Board of County Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa welcomed the delegation and discussed areas of possible collaboration between the County and Mozambique. The objective of the visit was to strengthen the relationship between Maputo and Miami-Dade, to learn about best practices and identify areas of technical exchange. At the request of the visiting delegation, OEDIT organized an agenda that included meetings with Miami-Dade College, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), the Africando trade show and exhibition, the Miami-Dade County Planning Division, PortMiami, Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, FIU and Jackson Memorial Hospital. A follow-up mission is expected in the coming months for Maputo and Miami-Dade to execute a cooperative agreement.

Top: Mozambique delegation with Mayor Gimenez. Middle: Mozambique Ambassador to the U.S. Carlos dos Santos exchanges protocol gifts with Mayor Gimenez. Bottom: Commissioner Rebeca Sosa with delegation at Lindsay Hopkins Technical College.

PRODUCERS OF CANTON FAIR, CHINA’S LARGEST TRADE SHOW, VISIT MIAMI On September 16, 2019, OEDIT welcomed a group from the China Foreign Trade Center, the organization that produces the annual Canton Fair, which is China’s largest trade show and one of the largest trade shows in the world. Leading the delegation was Mr. Zhuang Hong, deputy director general of the Center. The purpose of the visit was to explore new ways to attract Miami-area businesses to the Fair and to learn about Miami’s unique position as point of transshipment to Latin America and the Caribbean markets for Chinese products. OEDIT’s Manny Gonzalez presented information on Miami’s logistical advantages to getting products from China into the region, focusing on pre-clearing Chinese goods for entry into Brazil. Also discussed was the possibility of a Miami-Dade delegation attending the Fair in April in Guangzhou, China.  Top left: OEDIT'S Manny Gonzalez; ITC Board Member Joe Chi; and Zhaung Hong, deputy director, China Foreign trade Center.

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT IVAN DUQUE VISITS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Top: Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and Miami-Dade Commissioners Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Joe Martinez, Steve Bovo, and Javier Souto present the County Key to President Ivan Duque during the Colombian town hall meeting on Saturday Sept 28 at Florida International University. Left: Mayor Gimenez, Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson, Vice Chairwoman Rebecca Sosa and Commissioner Diaz meet with President Duque on Friday Sept. 27th.