Mayor Furr is unable to represent Broward County on this year’s trade mission and has designated Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness to participate in the trade mission on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners. Participation in this trade mission is consistent with the Board’s Value of “Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward’s diverse population and businesses.”
Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness would participate in the trade mission as the Mayor’s designee, joining Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Secretary of Commerce Peter Antonacci and Team Florida, to assist in promoting Florida-Costa Rica trade and investment. While this is business-related travel, Board approval is required since there is a registration fee to participate in the trade mission. Commissioner Holness would meet with government officials, trade representatives, industrial organizations, and business groups to increase bilateral trade ties between Broward County and Costa Rican firms.
In the County’s International Trade Policy adopted on November 12, 2002, the Board agreed to collaborate with other international partners and participate in trade missions, and to implement strategic goals through the utilization of the Office of Economic and Small Business Development, and other County agencies.
Costa Rica’s market represents vast opportunity for Broward companies interested in increasing their footprint in the Central American market as well as benefiting from reduced tariffs and exporting barriers. Facilitated by the U.S. - Central America Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. has become the chief trading partner for Costa Rica. Costa Rica also represents a top trading partner for Port Everglades ranking as its 8th largest trading partner with 34,739 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units of the capacity of container ship, container terminals and corresponding to statistics of the container transit in a port) traded in Fiscal Year 2017.
Meetings with government officials, port and economic development representatives, and export associations directed at increasing bilateral trade ties are planned.
In order to compete in the global marketplace, it is important for Broward County to participate in the upcoming trade mission to San Jose, Costa Rica. |