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Front Page » Business & Finance » Enterprise Florida mission to Costa Rica nets $23 million

Enterprise Florida mission to Costa Rica nets $23 million

Written by on March 13, 2018
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Enterprise Florida mission to Costa Rica nets $23 million

The state’s official economic development organization, Enterprise Florida, reported about $23.2 million in total sales after it led an export mission to San Jose, Costa Rica.

The Feb. 26 to March 1 mission focused on allowing small to mid-sized Florida companies to make connections in the Central American marketplace in sectors such as beauty products manufacturing, hotel and restaurant equipment, renewable energy and more.

“The mission was successful,” said Manny Mencia, Coral Gables-based senior vice president of international trade and development for Enterprise Florida. He said it comprised 41 people representing 21 companies.

“In total, 194 appointments were held between these companies and Costa Rican businesspeople,” he said. “Besides the 21 companies – and those are the 21 companies we did actual one-on-one appointments for – we had two seaports represented, which were Port of Miami and Port Everglades, and there were also five delegates that were representing private companies that made their own appointments.”

The companies included “businesses such as Seaboard Marine, which is the largest cargo carrier between Costa Rica and Florida, along with others,” Mr. Mencia said.

Export sales missions usually visit Costa Rica every three years, with Enterprise Florida’s aim being to “build relationships that will allow us to continue to expand trade between Florida and the target market.”

Markets the mission focused on included medical technology, civilian aircraft, automotive parts and car equipment, renewable energy, food processing and more, according to Enterprise Florida’s website.

“The companies that participated reported roughly $23.2 million expected sales between actual deals and deals they expect to do over the next year, which is good for a relatively small market, because you know Costa Rica is a county with roughly 5 million people, although it is our number one export market in Central America,” Mr. Mencia said.

While exact numbers aren’t in for this mission, in 2016 bilateral trade between the US and Costa Rica totaled $10.2 billion, with Florida being the leading state for two-way trade. Costa Rica also ranked as Florida’s 12th merchandise trading partner, since it exported about $3.6 billion in products in 2016.

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