International trade supports 2.5 million jobs in Florida, 70,000 of those in Tampa alone, and it’s growing three times faster than total employment. Florida trade is valued at $147.7 billion, according to Enterprise Florida, which means that increasing international trade and foreign direct investment is vital to the growth of our region’s economy. This is why local economic development partners in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties have teamed up on a regional collaboration to grow our local economy overseas.  Global Tampa Bay aims to increase international business opportunities for local companies and increase foreign direct investment in the Tampa Bay area. For example, a recent export trade mission to Mexico - the most successful to date - resulted in more than $35 million in projected economic activity for the local companies that attended. We’ll discuss this growing trade and the impact to the Tampa Bay and Central Florida communities.

Guests:

  • Craig Richard, President and CEO, Tampa Hillsborough EDC
  • Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa
  • Manny Mencia, SVP of International Trade & Development, Enterprise Florida