GOVERNOR CRIST OPENS BUSINESS MATCHMAKER EXPO
~~ ~~ Brazilian business executives meet with Team Florida delegates to explore trade opportunities ~~ ~~
November 6, 2007
Contact:
ERIN ISAAC
(850) 488-5394
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Governor Charlie Crist today officially opened the Florida-Brazil Business Matchmaker Expo. The trade expo features more than 60 Florida businesses interested in potential business arrangements with Brazilian companies. Companies exhibiting in the expo represent industries in Florida ranging from environmental technologies to construction and real estate, aviation and logistics to economic development organizations and tourism services. More than 3,000 Brazilian business executives from 1,000 companies are expected to attend the two-day expo to learn more about Florida’s products and services.
“As Team Florida’s business leaders discuss partnership opportunities with Brazilian business leaders, new doors open for Florida’s economy and for the economy of Brazil,” Governor Crist said. “The partnerships begun during this trade mission will have long-lasting effects for years to come.”
Many expo participants shared their success stories with Governor Crist. William Bolivar, CEO of Bolivar BioFuels, said that he is negotiating a $125 million deal to build an ethanol plant in Florida. Lynn Brown of Home Diagnostics, Inc., said that her company closed four out of five deals today.
Governor Crist had planned today to tour the world’s largest sugar mill, the COSAN Usina da Barra located in Barra Bonita; however, the tour was cancelled due to weather conditions. COSAN, the largest ethanol producer in Brazil, is the second largest producer of ethanol in the world and largest exporter in the world. Ethanol made from sugarcane is used as an important source of energy in Brazil. Mills and distilleries process biomass from sugarcane to produce sugar as a foodstuff, as well as electric energy from bagasse (sugarcane stalks) and additives to improve gasoline’s energy and environmental performance.
In Florida, the sugarcane industry is increasingly contributing to the ongoing diversification of the Florida’s economy through renewable energy production. The industry supports more than 25,000 jobs and represents a total economic impact of $3.1 billion. The average wage in the Florida industry is $41,301, more than 130 percent of the average wage in the state.
About the Trade Mission
Brazil is Florida’s number-one international merchandise trade partner, with two-way trade valued at $11.3 billion in 2006; an increase of 3.8 percent from 2005. Trade between Florida and Brazil from January to June, 2007, has increased 10 percent from the same period in 2006. Brazil ranks first in total exports from Florida, valued at roughly $8 billion, half of which are goods manufactured in Florida. With a gross domestic product of approximately US$700 billion, Brazil represents roughly half of the South American territory and economy and is the largest country in terms of population in Latin America and the Caribbean.
During the five day mission, Governor Crist will meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Clifford Sobel and senior government officials from the State of São Paulo, the State of Mato Grosso, the State of Bahia, and the State of Rio De Janiero. Additionally, the Governor will be meeting with the Board of Directors from the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP) and speak with the American Chambers of Commerce of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero. The Governor will participate in a Brazil-Florida Ethanol Roundtable, visit the Usina da Barra sugar mill (the world’s largest sugar mill), and inaugurate the Florida-Brazil business Matchmaker Expo.
Coordinated by Enterprise Florida Inc., the Team Florida delegation includes business and governmental leaders, as well as representatives from economic development and educational organizations. According to Enterprise Florida, Inc., areas for increased exports and investment include agriculture, aviation and accessories, biofuels, computer software, IT hardware, medical equipment, and telecommunications, among others. The delegation will participate in a variety of business development events and trade presentations during the mission, including one-on-one business meetings between Brazilian and Florida companies, a targeted promotional campaign to attract prospective clients, business networking events and market briefings by the U.S. Commercial Service.
Sponsors of the mission include Akerman Senterfitt, American Airlines, AmCham Brasil, Bacardi, Banco do Brasil, Bank of America, CAMACOL, ETH Bioenergy-Odebrecht, Express Travel, Falcone Group, FIESP, Florida Trend, General Motors, Mercantil Commercebank, and Orange County, Florida.
Photos are available at http://www.flgov.com/brazil.
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