by Henley Jones
U.S. Commercial Service, Ft Lauderdale Export Assistance Center
“With the pivotal role
played by the services sector in Florida’s economy, our state
is committed to developing programs that strengthen the export of
services. From trade missions to on-line business centers, the Florida
Services Export Program illustrates our State’s growing range
of tactics to help ensure that Florida service firms have a strategic
advantage throughout the World. This is an integrated effort, leveraging
partnerships with the U.S. Commercial Service and others in support
of Florida’s world class service companies.
—Jeb Bush, Governor
of Florida
The service sector is a driving force in the U.S. economy, accounting
for approximately 53 percent of GDP in 2000 and exports of services
in 2000 were nearly 29 percent of total exports. Service providers
have specialized needs and the agencies of the International Trade
Administration are working to adapt support mechanisms to meet those
needs. The innovative efforts in Florida provide insight to how several
organizations have worked together to achieve promising results.
The Florida Services Export Program takes advantage of Florida’s
strategic geography and trading heritage to put the state in a leadership
position to promote service exports.
Driven by Enterprise Florida, the state’s premier public-private
economic development organization, a number of initiatives have been
undertaken to identify and assist Florida’s service firms in
tapping markets in the Western Hemisphere. Florida firms already have
an affinity and tradition of trade with this hemisphere.
The Florida services export initiative is funded by the State of Florida
and led by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), which, as
the third largest metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in the United States,
has been able to capitalize on its strong ties with similar organizations
throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The results are impressive. In the last three years alone, the GMCC’s
Services Missions have generated $400 million in sales and investment.
This results-oriented approach and artful integration of partners
such as the Commercial Service and other units of the Department of
Commerce has positioned the Chamber as a role model for export promotion
of services.
The Florida Services Export Program
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Enterprise
Florida, Florida International University and the U.S. Commercial
Service is pioneering the promotion and packaging of Florida’s
service sector with a variety of initiatives intended to position
Florida as the United States’ premier exporter of services. The
Florida Services Export Program (FSEP) has five major components:
- Florida Service Network: The Florida Service Network (FSN)
is a statewide partnership encompassing over 60 business organizations,
such as chambers of commerce, economic development organizations
and trade associations.
- FloridaServiceNet.com. As the first statewide on-line business
center serving Florida service providers and their counterpart interests
worldwide, www.FloridaServiceNet.com uses a custom designed database
of services industry classifications.
- Florida Service Missions: In the three years since the
program’s inception, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
has organized a number of inbound and outbound missions with a number
of countries throughout Latin America, making extensive use of the
U.S. Commercial Service’s overseas contacts and matchmaking
Gold Key Service.
- Institute for International Professional Services (IIPS):
Located at Florida International University (FIU), IIPS is conducting
research on the services sector and developing economic impact assessments
that are helping state government and other organizations allocate
resources for based upon needs.
- Educational Seminars: The FSEP organizes seminars and briefings
as well as networking events in Florida and abroad to (a) draw service
sector firms to explore export opportunities; (b) inform them of
such opportunities and; (c) provide a forum to network and promote
business.
Information Technology — Florida’s Leading Edge in Promoting
Services Exports
While the FSEP has engaged a broad spectrum of services industries,
Florida’s emerging role as an information technology (IT) center
has led to special emphasis on firms involved in e-business.
The U.S.-Argentina Strategic Partners Conference held in March 2001
at Florida International University demonstrated the potential of
this sector. Forty Argentine information technology companies were
matched with Florida partners during the conference. This event was
a collaborative effort drawing on the resources of International Trade
Administration, the Argentine Government, InternetCoast, Enterprise
Florida and FIU. It was a perfect demonstration of Florida as a strategic
venue for linking U.S. service industry firms with suitable partners
in Argentina.
In July 2001, Governor Bush led an Enterprise Florida mission to Chile
and Argentina, which further demonstrated Florida’s emergence
as a global leader in information technology. The Ft. Lauderdale Export
Assistance Center was pivotal in elevating the importance of the information
technology sector of Florida and as a result, numerous IT companies
participated in the governor’s mission.
A partner and lately an outstanding example of the overall Florida
effort, Florida International University’s Institute of Professional
Services, affiliated with the Latin American and Caribbean Center
(LACC) and the Center for International Business Education and Research
(CIBER), participated in both the Florida conference and the Governor’s
trade mission with good result. The March conference established linkages
that have further positioned FIU as a major educational services provider
and exporter.
One result was the ‘Americas E-Business Education and Training
Initiative,’ co-signed by representatives of FIU’s College
of Business Administration, the University of Buenos Aires’ (UBA)
School of Economic Sciences and Argentine e-business firm Competir.com
during the July, 2001 trade mission to Argentina led by Governor Bush.
According to Dr. Eduardo Gamarra, director of the Institute for International
Professional Services, “this agreement serves as a guiding force
of a vision to develop an international partnership for post-graduate
education that combines the application of information technology
with strong business skills and knowledge.”
A Model Program
Services are at the helm of Florida’s economic development.
Representing over 78 percent of the state’s annual gross state
product, the FSEP’s comprehensive strategy offers clear benefits
to the individual service provider and the state of Florida. In Florida,
smaller businesses can explore the potential of international markets
through a single source. Much of the FSEP’s past success in generating
export transactions can be attributed to their integrated approach
with partners like the Commercial Service, arranging market information,
assisting planning and providing on the ground support.
Recognized as a unique effort on the national and international scene,
the GMCC has discussed their experiences with other U.S. regions interested
in collaboration and have been featured in services-oriented field
training for the U.S. Commercial Service.
Most importantly, however, is the strong leadership and long term
commitment by Governor Bush’s Enterprise Florida and top management
at the GMCC and FIU that are playing a significant role in creating
business opportunities and strengthening awareness internationally
of Florida as a premier location for world class services. As GMCC
executive Marisa Feito says with unquestioned enthusiasm, “Florida
has every reason to be a gateway for services trade just as it has
traditionally been as a portal for selling goods. The difference is
that Florida is now predominantly a service sector state. With leading
service companies located here from all over the Hemisphere, with
our great universities, our great partnerships and our Governor’s
great devotion to promoting Florida’s services, there is no doubt
that the sun will shine all the more brightly on services for a long
time to come.”
For more information, contact:
Florida Services Network c/o Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
Tel: (305) 577-5477
Email: Contactus@floridaservicenet.com
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