The Tampa Port Authority (TPA) is pleased to announce that today it hosted nearly 40 executives representing an array of U.S. and Dominican Republic-based businesses that are seeking new import and export trade opportunities.
As a component of a six-day event called Trade USA: XIV Inbound Trade Mission Dominican Republic to Florida, the day-long series of meetings and subsequent boat tour of Tampa's port facilities was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Florida Foreign Trade Association, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in the D.R., the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in the D.R., the Tampa-Hillsborough County Economic Development Corporation, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, and Enterprise Florida. The overall goal of the person-to-person meetings was to consider ways to further commercial development by way of bilateral import and export activities between the two nations.
According to the Florida Foreign Trade Association, Trade-USA promotes American products and/or services as well as increases the international trade through inbound trade missions to the U.S. and primarily focuses on exports.
"Today is a great opportunity to promote shipping with our different partners and to maintain and create jobs, as well as to open doors to new markets. I see great business potential with the range of companies represented," Ralph Puga, president of the Florida Foreign Trade Association, said. "
The feedback has been quite positive from the meetings today," Sheila Diaz de Andujar, commercial specialist with the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, said. "Many D.R.-based company representatives from today's event believe they will be doing business with Tampa-area companies, in areas such as building materials and auto parts, among others."
Currently, the Port of Tampa, via global container carrier Zim Integrated Shipping Line, enjoys weekly container service to the Port of Rio Haina, in the D.R. The Tampa Port Authority (www.tampaport.com) administers Florida's largest and one of the nation's most diversified ports, handling a wide mix of bulk, break-bulk and containerized cargoes, and is also one of the nation's premier cruise home ports, as well as a major center for shipbuilding and repair. For more information on the Florida Foreign Trade Association, visit
http://www.ffta.com/
