Miami-Dade Comissioner, Jean Monestime Leads Business Development Mission To Nairobi, Kenya
MIAMI – The Economic Development and International Trade unit of the Miami-Dade County’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) in collaboration with Enterprise Florida Inc., and with the support of the US Commercial Service Nairobi and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry will lead a business development mission to Nairobi, Kenya November 11th – 17th, 2012.
The objectives of the mission are to solidify bilateral trade, commerce and cultural ties between Miami-Dade and Kenya and to provide business opportunities to nine Florida private sector participants joining the mission.
Industry sectors represented by the business participants include: Clean Energy & Electrical Power Systems; Aviation/ Aerospace; Emerging Technologies; Telecommunications; Construction & Building; Healthcare and IT.
The mission is designed to assist new-to-export and new-to-market small businesses in Florida develop commercial opportunities in Kenya. During the mission, participants will meet with high level government officials, receive in-country briefings, network with Kenyan businesses and organizations, and participate in targeted pre-arranged one-to-one business matchmaking meetings with local Kenyan companies.
Kenya is the leading economy in East Africa and the gateway to the East African Community (EAC), which consists of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The EAC has a combined population of more than 130 million and a combined GDP of $74.5 billion. The U.S. also is working with the EAC on a new regional integration initiative, which will enhance the U.S. – EAC trade and investment relationship.
Kenya qualifies for duty free access to the United States of America (USA) market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) enacted by the United States in 2000. Also, Mombasa, the main principle seaport of Kenya, has served as a major distribution hub for the lucrative East African market providing connections to landlocked neighboring nations.
The Port of Mombasa and Port Miami have been engaged as Sister Seaports since 2007. Kenya is South Florida’s 95th trade partner with bilateral trade valued at $17 million (2011), and is currently the 105th largest goods trading partner with the United States with $846 million in total goods trade (2011).
“This is an important mission for South Florida and Florida based companies to take advantage of the growing opportunities in East Africa, and I am certain that Commissioner Jean Monestime, Vice Chairman of Miami-Dade County’s International Trade Consortium (ITC) Board of Directors, will successfully lead this mission on behalf of Miami-Dade County,” said Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, Chairman of the ITC.
