Enterprise Florida, Inc. and the Florida Ports Council announced that registration is open for its first-ever virtual forum focused exclusively on the scale and economic potential of doing business through Florida’s commercial ports.
“We know the impacts to supply chains, domestically and internationally, have been impacted by the pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Jamal Sowell, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida. “Having worked at a Florida port myself, I know firsthand they are strategic partners in our efforts to get Florida businesses back on track and producing products here at home for export. This online engagement gives us the opportunity to make the case for export to interested businesses.”
The event, Florida Seaports: Focused on the Future, will spotlight work being done by both organizations, the case for maritime cargo trade, and action items for engaging in future import-export opportunities. It will also cover future plans and goals reflected in the 2020-2024 Five-Year Seaport Mission Plan, recently released by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development (FSTED) Council. It provides a snapshot of Florida ports’ economic impacts, along with goals for the next five years.
“Florida’s seaports are focused on supporting Florida families and the growing business community by delivering the goods and services that make our ports such a critical hub for national and international commerce,” said Doug Wheeler, President and CEO of the Florida Ports Council. “Despite the challenges we face due to the pandemic, our ports will continue to make strategic investments to improve infrastructure and grow trade, ensuring economic growth and benefiting communities across the state.”
Just before the worldwide pandemic hit Florida’s economy, Florida seaports showed steady trade from 2018 to 2019. Florida’s total waterborne trade for 2019 was valued at $86.6 billion. One in five U.S. exporters is located in the state, and 96 percent of Florida exporters are small or medium-sized enterprises with 500 or fewer employees.
WHAT: Florida Seaports: Focused on the Future Online Event
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 10:00 am – 12 pm ET
WHO: Florida businesses interested in export trade; international private sector businesses interested in import opportunities; partners in the transportation industry, state government, and the private sector.
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