Page 26 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

GOVERNOR

RICK SCOTT

STATE OF

FLORIDA

Florida is a South Atlantic state bordered by Ala- ida. Given the convenient geographic layout of the Florida has long been a leading destination for for-
bama and Georgia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean state, most companies are a short drive to one of eign investment and the principal U.S. gateway to
to the east, the Straits of Florida to the south, and four major cargo gateway ports located in Florida. Latin America
the Gulf of Mexico to the west. It is the southeast- This access gives even small companies opportuni-
ern-most state. ties to export products overseas. International trade and foreign direct investment ac-
counted for about one-sixth of the state’s econom-
In Florida we understand what it takes to do interna- The state of Florida has created 180,200 jobs over ic output last year and supports an estimated one
tional business and will always be ready to welcome the past year, and has steadily kept unemployment million jobs. Florida has the highest trade surplus
you. The state offer a talented workforce, top-ranked rates below the national average. At the same time, among all states, with total trade valued at $147.7
infrastructure, global connectivity and quality of life achievement gaps are closing in Florida’s Pre-K-12 billion flowing through Florida’s ports last year. Flor-
your company needs. system, Florida continues to break visitation records, ida exported more goods than 190 countries in
and our state is continuing to diversify its economy. 2017, making the state one of the world’s leaders
The state of Florida has a very diverse workforce in international trade.
totalling 9.6 million workers. Florida’s talent pipe- Florida has launched a first-of-its-kind program to
line is consistently ranked among the best in the the help foreign investors prepare for U.S. market entry The economy in the state of Florida has topped $1
country. in Florida. The Venture Bridge Florida program is a trillion, meaning that if Florida was its own nation, it
partnership between several Florida organizations, would have the 17th largest economy in the world.
Florida is one of the largest export states in the U.S. including the National Entrepreneurship Center The tourism industry has an economic impact of
and is a major gateway for merchandise trade be- (NEC), Enterprise Florida (EFI), the Florida Business $67 billion on Florida’s economy.
tween North America, Latin America, the Caribbean Incubator Association, and the Association of Sister
and other world regions. America pass through Flor- Cities of Florida.
26 FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018