“We are looking to strengthen our trade relationship with SeaSeaPort Manatee, further benefiting from its favorable gateway position in Central Florida,” Martín de Antueno, deputy consul of Argentina, said today [Thursday, May 31] as he led a morning-long seminar at the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee.

“As Argentina has opened its foreign trade policy over the past 2 1/2 years, we are now entering the world, and the world is welcoming us,” said de Antueno, who, following the trade seminar, was hosted at a downtown Bradenton luncheon with sponsors including Manatee County and Manatee Chamber of Commerce. “We truly appreciate the welcome we are getting at SeaSeaPort Manatee.”
Imports into SeaSeaPort Manatee from Argentina totaled $675 million in value during the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2017, making the South American country of 45 million people SeaSeaPort Manatee’s top supplier of inbound cargo.

Noting that aluminum and biodiesel fuels are among commodities shipped to SeaSeaPort Manatee from Argentina, Miami-based de Antueno said Florida receives about one-third of all of Argentina’s imports into the United States, while significant opportunities remain not only for growing such northbound volumes but also for increasing exports from Florida to Argentina. In years past, SeaSeaPort Manatee exports to Argentina have included fertilizers.

“We look forward to working with interests from Argentina in building upon our two-way trade,” said Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority. “We believe we offer unique opportunities for connecting the world with a region of more than 10 million residents and which hosts some 80 million visitors a year. As we increase these productive commercial ties, we augment SeaSeaPort Manatee’s already impressive positive impacts upon our region’s socioeconomic wellbeing.”

SeaSeaPort Manatee’s executive director, Carlos Buqueras, commented, “Through the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee, we continue to proactively engage leaders of commerce from around the globe, together realizing the mutual benefits of expanded trade.”

Over the past several months, SeaSeaPort Manatee and its trade hub also have hosted high-level representatives of such diverse nations as Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland and Spain.

Located “Where Tampa Bay Meets the Gulf of Mexico,” SeaSeaPort Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, with 10 40-foot-draft berths serving container, bulk, breakbulk, heavylift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without levying ad-valorem taxes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

“We can establish a bridge,” said Leszek Ladowski, president of the Miami-based Polish trade organization. “It’s not just about the 21 million people who live in Florida. It’s about all the connections in Latin America and throughout the Americas.

“SeaSeaPort Manatee has a great location to be the gateway,” Ladowski said. “The opportunity is there. How big it becomes is up to us.”

Ladowski, who lived in Latin America for 14 years, said Poland, as the leading free-market economy of the 12-country Central and Eastern Europe region, has been increasing its trade with the United States at an annual pace of more than 20 percent and is eager to pursue solid commercial links throughout the Americas.

Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority, said she shares the enthusiasm, commenting, “Serving as a channel for commerce is at the heart of the mission of SeaSeaPort Manatee, and we are encouraged by the potential the port holds as an important tie between Central and Eastern Europe and the Americas, benefitting interests throughout the world while boosting contributions to our region’s socioeconomic wellbeing as well.”

SeaSeaPort Manatee’s executive director, Carlos Buqueras, said, “SeaSeaPort Manatee continues to attract the interest of leaders of commerce around the globe, with the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee leading the way in realizing our vast potential to offer and capitalize upon mutually beneficial opportunities.”

In the past several months, SeaSeaPort Manatee and its trade hub have also hosted high-level officials representing such nations as Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Peru and Spain.

Located “Where Tampa Bay Meets the Gulf of Mexico,” SeaSeaPort Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, with 10 40-foot-draft berths serving container, bulk, breakbulk, heavylift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without levying ad-valorem taxes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

“We look forward to realizing vast untapped potential for enhanced ties with both North Port and SeaSeaPort Manatee,” Sacha Garafulic, Chile’s Miami-based trade commissioner, said Wednesday [March 28] as he took part in a symposium and luncheon at North Port’s Shannon Staub Library.

North Port Vice Mayor Linda Yates commented Wednesday, “Today is a very good day for the City of North Port as we host the trade commissioner of one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations, the country of Chile.
“We welcome Mr. Garafulic and appreciate his generous gesture to visit our growing and dynamic city located on Florida’s Gulf Coast between Tampa and Fort Myers,” Yates continued. “His visit signifies a new dimension of business opportunities for the North Port metropolitan area.”

Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority, governing board of SeaSeaPort Manatee, which is 55 miles northwest of North Port along Interstate 75, said she sees the trade symposium as a key step in fortifying the relationship between SeaSeaPort Manatee and the largest city in Sarasota County, as well as pursuit of mutually beneficial commerce.

“The International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee’s objective is to seek out new international markets and trade opportunities for all of Southwest Florida,” Baugh said. “We are encouraged by the business opportunities presented, and we look forward to working closely with the City of North Port and Chile on further expanding our ties.”

Since opening in 2014, the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee has played a vital role in expanding global connections for the port and Southwest Florida’s businesses. In recent months, the hub has been visited by officials from more than a dozen nations, including Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Peru and Spain.

Located “Where Tampa Bay Meets the Gulf of Mexico,” SeaSeaPort Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, with 10 40-foot-draft berths serving container, bulk, breakbulk, heavylift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without levying ad-valorem taxes.

Billed as “the City Where You Can Achieve Anything,” North Port is home to more than 67,000 residents and spans more than 104 square miles. Undeveloped natural land and a population with a youthful mindset are hallmarks of North Port, which is one of the fastest-growing cities of Florida. North Port is ranked by MoneyRates as the No. 1 U.S. city for young entrepreneurs, by Milken Institute as the nation’s sixth-best-performing large city and by Southern Business and Development as best in manufacturing in Tampa Bay.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

“This is the first time we’ve had so many trade commissioners assembled at one location,” Carlos Buqueras, executive director of SeaSeaPort Manatee, said of the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee’s hosting Thursday [Feb. 22] of representatives from Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Spain. The nations constitute the majority of board membership of the International Trade Commissioners of Florida (INTRADE).

“This unique gathering further places SeaSeaPort Manatee and Manatee County on the radar screen of companies seeking to pursue investment and trade opportunities in Florida,” Buqueras added.

Juan C. Barrera, deputy director for the United States of ProColombia USA and president of INTRADE, commented, “SeaSeaPort Manatee already plays an important role in handling Colombian imports and exports, as well as substantial trade with other INTRADE country members, and clearly offers prospects for significant additional international commerce.”

Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority, said, “We are honored to host this influential group. Expanding commercial ties with these countries will help strengthen SeaSeaPort Manatee’s position as a vital economic engine for Manatee County while connecting global interests with the fast-growing consumer base of Central and Southwest Florida.”

Since opening in 2014, the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee has been integral in expanding global connections for the port and Manatee County enterprises. In recent months, the hub has been individually visited by business leaders and trade officials of numerous countries.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Following a luncheon presentation at the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee and meetings with area business leaders, Ken Okaniwa, Consul General of Japan in Miami expressed his interest in learning more about the area and promoting business ties with Japan.

Japan already is the No. 2 source of imports coming into Florida, with the more than $6.5 billion in Japanese goods entering the Sunshine State trailing only China among trade partners. Also, Japan has historically been the No. 1 country for foreign direct investment in Florida. Nearly 200 Japanese companies combine to account for about 24,200 Florida jobs, according to Okaniwa.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

In an effort to promote international trade with the U.S. through the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee, Ivan Mutis, Coordinator for the International Trade Hub, traveled to Colombia and met with the Government of Risaralda in Pereira, the Industrial Colombian Association AcopiCaldas in Manizales and the agency to promote investments in Pereira, InvestinPereira. During this trip, Mr. Mutis presented business opportunities and advantages of the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee and initiated the organization of a trade mission from Colombia. Together with the Risaralda Government and AcopiCaldas, the International Trade Hub is arranging this trip to bring industrial companies to Manatee County and other strategic business locations within the region.

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“Opportunities are really growing for reaching Central and Southwest Florida by way of SeaSeaPort Manatee,” said Manuel Echeverria Castro, Ecuador’s trade commissioner for the southern United States. “We have a very high interest in SeaSeaPort Manatee.”

“We are looking to increase awareness that ports on the Gulf of Mexico, such as SeaSeaPort Manatee, offer great opportunity, in addition to traditional South Florida gateways,” said Echeverria, who noted that about 30 percent of Ecuador’s non-oil exports go to the United States, with approximately 40 percent of those products currently entering via South Florida ports on the Atlantic Ocean.”

Central and Southwest Florida markets combine to put nearly 10 million consumers within a two-hour drive of SeaSeaPort Manatee while attracting some 100 million annual visitors.

In recent years, shipments to SeaSeaPort Manatee from Ecuador have included bananas and fertilizer, but Echeverria sees those products being joined by mangos and other fruit, as well as dozens of other potential items, from shrimp to cocoa beans and chocolate to Panama hats. The latter haberdashery good, Echeverria pointed out, is, despite its name, actually made in Ecuador.

Echeverria was joined by Daniela Muñoz, business development manager in the Pro Ecuador trade development office in Doral, Florida, for a presentation at the Manatee County Port Authority’s monthly meeting, as well as a tour of SeaSeaPort Manatee, including the International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee, and engagement at a Manatee County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

“We greatly appreciate the interest shown in SeaSeaPort Manatee by Ecuadorian trade officials,” said Carlos Buqueras, SeaSeaPort Manatee’s executive director, “and we look forward to working together to advance mutually beneficial commercial ties.” The Ecuadorian officials’ visit to SeaSeaPort Manatee is the latest of several by Latin American trade leaders, augmenting those earlier this year by representative of Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. The International Trade Hub at SeaSeaPort Manatee has played an integral role in attracting for such activity since its opening in 2014.

Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority, cited SeaSeaPort Manatee’s recent completion of a record fiscal year for container volume and cargo tonnage and commented, “Growing trade with Ecuador and other Latin American countries seeking ready access to Central and Southwest Florida markets bodes to significantly enhance SeaSeaPort Manatee’s already impressive position as a critical economic engine for our region.”

Located “Where Tampa Bay Meets the Gulf of Mexico,” SeaSeaPort Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, with 10 40-foot-draft berths serving container, bulk, breakbulk, heavylift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without levying ad-valorem taxes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]