Drew Wilson
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is looking to underscore the importance of trade in the Sunshine State during “World Trade Month.”
The Chamber said, “Florida was made for trade,” pointing to stats showing a fifth of Florida’s 12.5 million jobs are dependent on trade.
“During World Trade Month, it is important to recognize that Florida’s geography, history and cultural connections have served as a strong foundation for strong trade relationships,” said Eric Green, CEO of JAXPORT and member of the Florida Chamber Board of Governors.
JAXPORT is the state’s top container port complex by volume, but the other 14 seaports in the state are all important cogs in the state’s $1 trillion economy, the Chamber said.
Other top performers: Port Tampa Bay generates an annual economic impact of $17.2 billion and supports 85,000 direct, indirect and related jobs; Port Everglades’ total economic activity is more than $30 billion, impacting over 230,197 jobs; and PortMiami contributes more than $41 billion annually to the South Florida economy and helps provide direct and indirect employment for more than 324,000 jobs.
More than 37 percent of manufactured goods head out through a Florida port, including products produced by more than 61,000 Florida-based companies.
“Florida is not just a great place to live and do business, but has an incredibly diversified economy” said Florida Chamber chair Bob Grammig.
“By expanding Florida’s role as the global hub for trade and logistics, we are creating jobs, attracting and retaining talent and providing more opportunities for businesses who want to grow or expand in our state.”
World Trade Month traces its roots back to 1935, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set aside the third week of May as “World Trade Week,” an event that is still recognized annually by presidential proclamation.
During World Trade Week, members of the Florida Chamber’s International Program will travel to Washington, D.C., to encourage Florida’s Congressional Delegation to support Florida job creators, and to work to ensure that trade continues to benefit the U.S. and Floridians.
