Posted October 03, 2007 17:33

First Order of Business

Last Call for NOLA
October 21-24 is the World Trade Centers Association General Assembly in New Orleans. This will be an excellent networking opportunity for businesses and promises to be a lot of fun, too. If you are interested in joining me, drop me a line or click here for more info.

ON THE ISSUE OF SECURITY
This month's newsletter focuses broadly on the topic of security. Security can mean many things, from financial security to national security, but it's a topic that's very much on the minds of those who notice the world growing smaller and smaller.

I'm honored this month to have a great many voices joining me in addressing topics of security, and hope that you will join in the discussion by adding your comments to the articles.

Tom Travis:
Staying Secure In An Insecure World

Jerry Watterworth:
Global Trade Briefing

Wayne M. Richards
Security is a Priority at the Port of Palm Beach

Deirdre Nero Valladares, Esq.:
Workplace Enforcement- Are you ready to Become an Immigration Enforcer?

DHS Fact Sheet on what can be done to increase Border Security under existing law. Link to Immigration Daily

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Items
ICE A.C.C.E.S.S. Program News Release (33 KB PDF)

ICE Enforcement Fact Sheet (44 KB PDF)

COLUMNISTS
Regular feature writer Tom Watkins returns with a new edition of "Tom Watkins' China Syndrome" This month, he discusses how the 2008 Beijing Olympics will reacquaint the world with China.

Anthony Russo also joins us with what we hope will be a regular column about the ins and outs of taking your business to the international realm. Check out the inaugural edition of "Achieving Globality with Anthony Russo."

NEED TO KNOW
Palm Beach County Economic Development Office Quarterly Report (484 KB PDF)

Employment Law Update by Ellen M. Leibovitch

World Economic Forum Website Web Link

China Trade Magazine Debuts Press Release about an exciting new magazine for small and medium sized business opportunities in China.

"Florida's Life Science Road Map" A report that examines synergies among a mix of sectors that can foster stronger growth of biotech clusters and networks. By the Milken Institute. (PDF)

Finally...
If you've had enough of security and are looking for something to fear, check out X-Scream Halloween, the largest single haunted house in Florida. It's located at 2030 S. Congress Ave. in West Palm Beach. Just look for the crashed WWII Grumman Hellcat fighter plane.

Have a FRIGHTFULLY GOOD October!

Feature Article

South Florida to Host Inter-American Development Bank Annual Meeting

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has recently announced the selection of south Florida – specifically host city, Miami – for its annual meeting to be held April 4-8, 2008. The event will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center and will feature dignitaries and diplomats from the entire western hemisphere.

"The selection of Miami is another crowning achievement in south Florida's history of hosting internationally significant events," said host committee chair Jorge Arrizurieta. "The IDB and the region will be well served by choosing to meet in a community and state that for decades has been the business center for the Americas."

The IDB was established in 1959 as a multilateral finance institution for the development of the Latin American and Caribbean regions. Loans and grants made through the bank help finance sustainable economic and social development projects which support strategies to reduce poverty, expand growth, increase trade, enhance investment and regional integration, and promote private sector development the region.

The IDB is owned by its member countries (see www.iadb.org) with each members voting power based on its subscription to the institution's resources. The United States is the largest contributor of capital and has a 30% voting power assignment. Others contributing countries are Canada, European nations, Israel, and Japan. By helping to foster sustainable development, the bank assists its borrowing members in formulating policy and provides financing and technical assistance to achieve environmentally sustainable economic growth. As of the end of 2006, the Bank had approved over $145 billion in loans and guarantees to finance projects with investments totaling over $336 billion.

Generally speaking, the funds are limited for use by the region's weakest economies. Countries like Bolivia, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua gain much from the IDB. But they are not the only ones. Public entities eligible to borrow from the Bank include national, provincial, state and municipal governments as well as autonomous public institutions. Civil society organizations and private companies are also eligible.

President Bush is expected to attend the Miami meeting as the chief of the host country and will likely be joined by several other presidents as well. Mr. Arrizurietta, a former U.S. official to the bank, was selected to chair the event's host committee,

In early September, the host committee was convened with representation from all three southeastern counties. I am privileged to have been asked to participate and will be working to insure that Palm Beach County's business and government interests are highlighted throughout the entire process.

With a projected budget in the $8 million range, the finance committee has already received early pledges for such hemispheric giants as FedEx, Wachovia and Citicorp. Fort Lauderdale attorney Mitchell Berger is leading the fundraising efforts, and his prime stated conviction is that the future of south Florida depends upon neighboring countries working together to develop international business and trade.

"This is not about Miami. It's a regional effort," Berger said. "The biggest direct beneficiaries of increasing international business in our area are Broward and Palm Beach counties, since they have the largest percentage pickup to gain."

With the recent advancement of China's influence in Caribbean and Latin American nations and the growing relationships between Iran and Venezuela, Bolivia and others, insuring trade agreements and advancement to economic prosperity for the region is not only in our commercial interests but also in our national interests.

Florida’s prosperity and safety rely upon furthering opportunities through the Caribbean Basin Initiative as well as our interests in the food to fuel concept outlined last week at the Oxford Group's Ethanol conference. It is without doubt that our national interest in security is intimately connected to our interests in trade and commerce, especially within the big backyard of ours called the western hemisphere.

The distance between commerce and security is closing. But south Florida’s global horizons continue to expand.

For further information on this conference and how to become involved, please contact me directly at al@alzucaro.com or at 561-644-1665.

-Al Zucaro

SAVE THE DATE

If you're interested in learning more about the Inter-American Development Bank, what projects it's funding and how your company can get involved, then be sure to save the date for October 17, 2007.

World Trade Center Palm Beach and the International Business Council of Florida will be joining with the IDB to present "BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FLORIDA COMPANIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THROUGH THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK" at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Representatives of the IDB will discuss major business opportunities for Florida providers of consulting services, goods and works arising through the financing of projects in developing countries, including Mexico, Chile and Brazil.

Speakers will discuss issues such as:

• Examples of interesting projects that are currently being prepared and related procurement opportunities
• How to network with bank staff to position your company strategically
• The difference between public sector and private sector projects, and how to seek loans and guarantees for private sector projects
• The Project Cycle: how projects are initiated and developed
• Procedures for procurement of consulting services, goods and works
• Recent policy changes at the organization and how they affect your firm

Additionally, a Florida-based firm that has won contracts with the IDB will present hints on winning contracts with international financial instructions. The event will also provide attendees the opportunity to meet with the Bank representatives during one-on-one sessions in the afternoon.

For more information, please contact International Business Council of Florida at IBCFlorida@usa.com or (786) 306-6650
To RSVP contact Mrs. Barbara Fiedor at bfiedor@wtcpalmbeach.com or (561) 644-9186.

-Al Zucaro

Reprinted with permission.
October 2007 International Newsletter Courtesy of Al Zucaro ©2007 Al Zucaro.