TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 of Florida's international business and economic development leaders gathered today at the "International State of the State 2002" in Tampa, to discuss the importance of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which will create the largest free trade area in the world extending from the southern corner of South America north to Alaska. The event marks the first statewide collaborative effort made to build a grassroots campaign for winning support for Florida FTAA and bringing the Permanent Secretariat to Miami.
"The International State of the State allows us to bring greater awareness to Florida's business community about the positive impact FTAA will have on the state's economy, including job creation and higher incomes," said Tony Villamil, chairman of Governor Bush's Council of Economic Advisors and CEO of Washington Economics Group.
The FTAA will reach more than 800 million consumers with a total GDP of $14 trillion. This will provide a gateway for Florida-based companies to expand sales in Latin American markets and help attract investment to Florida from European and Asian companies interested in taking advantage of FTAA benefits, Villamil added.
A series of educational seminars and panel discussions addressing how to build political and grassroots support for the FTAA dominated the day-along event. In addition, a joint resolution was signed showing the state's united support for FTAA and in bringing the Permanent Secretariat to Miami.
Manny Mencia, senior vice president of Enterprise Florida, led an International Town Hall meeting, where organizations from around the state came together to discuss common issues and concerns. "Many of Florida's international organizations face similar trade issues. Through this open forum, we were able to connect organizations so that they could create strategies for further developing and achieving of their goals."
The International State of the State was presented by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Committee of One Hundred and supported by Enterprise Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida FTAA, Inc.
"Hosting the International State of the State 2002 in Tampa helped engage the entire international business community of Florida in support of the FTAA and winning the Permanent Secretariat in Miami. FTAA is a historical trade initiative that will impact the entire state's economy," said Charlotte Starfire, international development director of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Committee of One Hundred. "We are pleased to see business leaders from all over the state sit at the table and voice their opinions so that FTAA can best serve the entire community."
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization of more than 2,300 members, representing 230,000 employees -- nearly half the workforce of Hillsborough County. The Committee of One Hundred, its economic development group, was named one of the top ten economic development organizations in the world by Site Selection magazine.
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