The world comes to Fort Lauderdale

The world comes to Fort Lauderdale

Enterprise Florida Brian Salter; Dwayne Boyd, Democratic  Republic of Congo; The Honorable Governor God’El Kabalumuna, Agriculture Minister, Paola Isaac, Broward County and The Democratic Republic of Congo The Honorable Guy Luyela Waby.

Rose Sager Trade Commissioner  Kingdom of Bahrain.

By photos and story Lyndale V. Pettus Sr.

Last week South Florida saw the world come to the Broward County Convention Center for the 2nd annual Florida International Trade & Cultural Expo “FITCE”.  The 2nd annual FITCE 2016 Convention had in attendance 30 countries represented by Council Generals and Trade Commissions, and companies from the four corners of the globe meet and market their countries resources and businesses opportunities through international trade.

Also in attendance were past attendees from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and Europe, who continue to do and grow their businesses in Broward County.

FITCE is the brainchild of forward thinking District 9 Commissioner Dale Holness, who saw with the expansion of the Panama Canal the benefits of new trade and cultural opportunities that could impact and add growth with international businesses doing business in Broward County.

There were sponsors such as UPS, Allied Steel Buildings, Port Everglades, FPL, T -Mobil, and Jet Blue, who is fast becoming an International carrier flying from Ft Lauderdale Airport. Many other sponsors want to capitalize on the growth of international business at the Broward County port and surrounding airports.

FITCE had as Keynote Speaker Mr. Brett C. Hamsik, Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State. There were new attendees from St. Eustatius and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both countries came with large delegations.

The Congo delegation was headed by The Honorable Kinioka Kabalumuna Governor of Kwilu and his Ministers who invited new businesses to his region with his personal guaranteed to accommodate and expedite anyone interested in developing business in his country with his direct help to facilitate new opportunities to export and import products and services to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This year’s FITCE had Broward County officials do a great job with a hands on approach to the event as a host and organizer which is a big plus as Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo “FITCE” grows into a beneficial model to export and import world business to Broward County Florida and beyond.