Welcome to the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium

Our vision is to promote and strengthen Miami-Dade County as an international trade and cultural center.

Miami-Dade County is a world class metropolitan area at the crossroads of the Western Hemisphere with a superior infrastructure for international trade; an excellent business climate; international financial services, and a rich cultural diversity which makes it the logical platform for trade with Latin America and the Caribbean.

At the March 11th, 2009 meeting, the Chair of the Western Hemisphere Trade Initiatives Ad-Hoc Committee recommended to the Board an ITC-led mission to Brazil. The Board of Directors voted to approve the mission, which will take place September 19th - 26th, 2009, and will be visiting the cities of Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte. ITC has partnered local economic development partners to make this mission a collaborative trade effort. The combined efforts of the various economic development organizations provide a unified front to showcase Miami-Dade County to our key trading partner, and provide Brazilian companies a platform to do business in the U.S. The deadline to register for the mission is July 31.

Executive Director J.A. Ojeda, Jr., was the keynote speaker at the International Hispanic Networks (IHN) Annual Conference which took place May 9th at the Eden Rock Hotel on Miami Beach, and was also the recipient of the IHN's Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to furthering the advancement of Hispanics in local government.

The annual Consular Corps reception took place on May 6th at the Four Seasons Hotel, and the ITC co-hosted the event along with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and Baptist Health. This year's reception honored Canadian Consul General Marcy Grossman, who will be leaving Miami after several years of service for a new assignment. The reception was also an opportunity for the professional diplomats of the Consular Corps posted in Miami-Dade County to come together for a discussion on trade and commerce issues. Despite the recent declines in global commerce, attendees remained optimistic that international trade will once again be a path to a global economic recovery.

The Port of Miami reported a 6% year-over-year increase in freight cargo exports for the months of October 08' to February 09'.  This is great news for the Port, given the general economic downturn and drop in cargo business for many U.S. seaports.  The Port of Miami is among America's busiest ports, and is recognized throughout the world as both the Cruise Capital of the World and the Cargo Gateway of the Americas. As the second largest economic engine in Miami-Dade County, the Port of Miami generates more than $17 billion annually and supports 176,000 jobs.

As a result of Commissioner Seijas' invitation in May 2008, Mr. Marcin Korolec, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Poland led a trade delegation to Miami from March 28th to April 1st, 2009.

As part of the Asian Trade Initiatives that develops and expands trade and cultural linkages with Asia, the ITC Board of Directors voted to approve a trade mission to Japan and Taiwan. The mission will take place May 24th -June 4th, 2009.

The 2009 Hemispheric Congress of Latin Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be held May 28th-30th at the Miami Beach Convention Center. This year's theme is Development and Expansion of the Agricultural Sector in the Economic Recovery in the Global Marketplace. There will be important plenary sessions where discussions will take place on the important changes in the way business is done today, and in the way business will be done in the future.

• Program overview 
• Registration form
• Program invitation

Companies in South Florida have the unique opportunity to participate in the 1st Edition of Costa Rica Services Summit 2009. PROCOMER, the Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica in Miami-Dade, will offer participating South Florida companies complementary hotel accommodations and meals for one representative from each company. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend specialized conferences by sector, business roundtables, and networking cocktail.