TRADE MISSION UPDATED
Governor Jeb Bush announced Thursday that a preliminary survey of Team Florida United Kingdom (UK) Trade Mission participants indicates an increase in economic activity between Florida and the UK. According to the latest data from more than eighty percent of the participants, export sales are expected to exceed $106 million with the possibility of creating 1,100 new jobs in Florida.
According to data compiled by Enterprise Florida: exports sales are estimated at $106,567,400 (actual sales $56,377,400/expected sales $50,190,000); joint ventures (two expected) should total $28,500,000; and meetings with 57 investors (37 new projects, 20 existing projects) could yield investment of 4,234 new jobs in Florida with a potential capital infusion of $216.6 million.
British demand for Florida products - particularly high-tech products - remains strong, despite an unsteady global economy. The UK imported $1.25 billion in Florida goods last year and as of 1999 (the latest year data is available) invested an estimated $4 billion in the state. Beyond the UK, Governor Bush has led Team Florida trade missions to Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay since 1999. Those past missions were expected to generate more than $350 million in new business as a direct result of the trips.
The Team Florida Trade Missions are organized by Enterprise Florida, Inc., the state's public-private economic development organization, which is overseen by the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. Governor Bush serves as Chairman of Enterprise Florida.
FV says: Hopefully, these missions will translate into more jobs than indicated in the press release. Sounds like maybe the 1K number was a typo.