PHILIPSBURG:--- Arthur Lugisse, Director of the Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. (TLH-SXMF) and St.Maarten Government Liaison in Florida for Trade-Tourism Economic Development, Infrastructure and Social Development, will be accompanying Florida Business Executive Jerry Gilpin to several meetings this week with local business sector representatives to explore trade possibilities and opportunities between the US State of Florida and St. Maarten. Gilpin arrived in the country on Tuesday evening.
Lugisse drafted a report several months ago that outlined the opportunity for local businesses to be able to set up joint ventures with Florida companies and also options for financing for local businesses to get goods and services out of Florida.
The follow-up to the report are one-on-one business meetings between local entrepreneurs and Florida business executive Jerry Gilpin during the next few days. Gilpin will be meeting with the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Wednesday morning followed by a meeting with members of the Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation.
Florida being one of the main export cities in America, and its close proximity to St. Maarten, makes a lot of sense to pursue, strengthen and expand business relations with the Orange State.
Florida-origin exports in 2012 were US$66.4 billion. International business makes up 18 per cent of Florida's economy.
"There will be opportunities for Food and Beverage supply, Green Houses, Heavy Equipment, Building Materials, Freight options, St. Maarten Air Ambulance, Shoes, Clothes, Appliance, Technology, Solar Lighting, New and used vehicles, road construction equipment, opportunity for manufacturing and packaging out of St. Maarten," Arthur Lugisse pointed out.
International business impacts many Florida industries and communities. Currently more than 58,000 Florida businesses, 96 per cent of which are small or medium sized, export products and services; Florida exported more than US$4 billion of agricultural commodities in 2012; international companies employ more than 223,500 Floridians, and Florida has more companies that export than any other state besides California.
Gilpin has a wealth of experience since 1973 being involved in the import/export business between the US and the Caribbean. The business executive is currently busy in the import/export of agricultural produce, seafood, telecommunications equipment, water systems and restaurant/tourism industry equipment between the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Jerry Gilpin also works closely with Florida Export Finance Corporation that establishes lines of credit for local exporters and foreign buyers under the EX-IM Bank programs.
Gilpin is the international representative of Foods & Beverages/Financing of Family & Son Inc. out of Miami, Florida.