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Posted on November 04, 2011 by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), (0) Comments

Building Brazil’s Trade Mission to Jacksonville

As Governor Rick Scott, Mayor Alvin Brown, and scores of local business people headed for Brazil last week a Government official from the state of Piaui came to Jacksonville on a similar mission - building business ties between Brazil and Jacksonville.

Mr. Marques travelled to Jacksonville for the first time just a year ago as a guest of GlobalJax and participant of the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. His Jacksonville visit was arranged and hosted by GlobalJax and focused on regional economic development. After exploring economic development with our community leaders, he knew he wanted to return to continue building business relationships. When Mr. Marques returned to Brazil he told everyone he knew about Jacksonville including his friends and family, along with his colleagues at the Piaui State Government who sponsored his return trip.

Just last week Mr. Marques returned to Northeast Florida and with the help of GlobalJax and Jorge Arce at US Commercial Services, secured high-level meetings with local businesses and educational institutions. According to Bob Grant, the President and Founder of VoyaCare Inc. who befriended Mr. Marques on his first trip to the area and facilitated his meetings last week, “[Mr. Marques] is here looking for the right people for his government to do business with.”

Piaui which is one of the world’s largest suppliers of opals, also boasts over 30 private and public universities and colleges, and is currently building an international sea port that will begin shipping in 2013. They also have protected trade zones and are eager to establish the relationships needed to support business through an active sea port. His experiences here have solidified his conviction that Jacksonville has the proper climate of business, cultural and social opportunities.

Mr. Marques plans to return in early 2012 with the Governor of Piaui to further solidify business and educational relations in Northeast Florida. This will offer another great opportunity for Northeast Florida to connect with Brazil.

If you are interested in learning more about the hundreds of similar leaders GlobalJax brings to the region each year from virtually every continent, or meeting with the delegation from Piaui when they return in 2012, please send an email to Andrea at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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