TODAY’S NEWS
WEEK OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018
MIAMI TODAY
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Small Florida firms key to Hong Kong mission By Sara Marino
For the first time in over a decade, the state economic development agency Enterprise Florida will send a trade mission to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China. “It’s (China) the largest market in the world and we’ve chosen to do this mission to Hong Kong, which is recognized worldwide as the gateway into China and Southeast Asia, which is one of the largest trading centers in the world,” said Manny Mencia, Coral Gables-based vice president of international trade and development for Enterprise Florida. “In fact, I used to like to call Miami the Hong Kong of the Western Hemisphere.”
The export matchmaking sales mission June 1-9 will focus on areas such as energy efficiency, clean technology, healthcare and e-commerce. “We thought doing a mission to Hong Kong would be a great idea, and then we’re combining it with a side trip to Guangzhou, which is one of the two largest business centers in China,” he said. “It’s also a nice combination from the standpoint that Guangzhou and Hong Kong are only about two hours apart.” The aim of the mission is to get 10 to 15 small to medium-sized Florida companies to collaborate with companies abroad. “It’s a great opportunity because China is a great trading
partner for both Florida and the United States,” Mr. Mencia said. “China is actually Florida’s second-largest trading partner after Brazil.” In terms of the monetary benefits of this mission, Mr. Mencia sees an expansion opportunity. “If you look at our exports to China, we’re already selling $1.2 billion to China and this is 2016 data, which is the latest we have available,” Mr. Mencia said. “The total data for 2017 will not be available until March.” Along with financial reasons, Enterprise Florida points to other reasons for this mission to succeed. The possibility of having direct flights between Florida
and China and increased access to the Panama Canal could all be potential results. “We think that there’s a growth opportunity, not only because of the economy but also because of the expansion of the Panama Canal,” Mr. Mencia said. “Florida has an increased opportunity to expand trade and job opportunity with China.” In terms of Hong Kong’s current market, Mr. Mencia says it is “excellent.” “Hong Kong is a logical plan for entering the Chinese market because it’s one of the great trading service centers of the world,” he said, “and then if you combine that with Guangzhou, which is one
Growth opportunity: Manny Mencia.
of the largest cities in the world, it’s a combination that I feel offers a lot of opportunity.” Details: (305) 808-3672 or mmencia@enterpriseflorida.com
No monkeying around: zoo targets million By Katya Maruri
Zoo Miami, which ended its fiscal year Sept. 30 with 932,000 visitors, anticipates meeting its 1 million visitor goal in the current fiscal year, according to Director Carol Kruse. “We ended the year with 932,000 visitors, which beat out last year’s numbers by 28,000,” she said. “However, we were derailed on meeting our 1 million visitor mark last fiscal year due to being closed for 37 days during the end of September into half of October due to Hurricane Irma.” However, she said, “despite being closed for that amount of time we had a very strong December, with over 118,000 visitors due to this year’s Zoo Lights event.” Photo by Marlene Quaroni As a result, Ms. Kruse said, “we plan to have an Florida Mission Everglades “a big hit with visitors,” said Carol Kruse. even bigger and better Zoo Lights this year with
exciting new features.” As for other ways the Zoo plans to attract more visitors, she said, “our Florida Mission Everglades exhibit, which opened last December, has been a big hit with visitors.” The exhibit, she said, “offers a unique platform to connect visitors and residents to local wildlife and nature right here in our own backyard, with the hope of sparking visitors’ curiosity to go visit Everglades National Park to see the real thing.” In addition, she said, the zoo will run a new TV commercial starting next week on local network TV, cable and WLRN for one month to highlight the zoo’s interactive encounters such as “Feed the Giraffes.” As for her overall goal for the Zoo, Ms. Kruse said, “We hope to hit the 1 million mark and foresee positive things for Zoo Miami’s future moving forward.”