LIMA, Peru – Dr. Alejandro Toledo, President of the Republic of Peru, announced today his endorsement of Miami as the location of the Permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
“Yes, Peru supports the FTAA and Miami. It is the best city for the home of the Secretariat, where a very strong hemispheric economic dynamism is produced. We will go step by step. First, we will work to make the U.S.-Andean FTA a reality and we will speak with our friends in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure this is handled appropriately,” said President Toledo.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference by President Toledo and Governor Bush as part of the historic trade mission, in which 70 business leaders participated, making it among the largest commercial missions from Florida to Peru in history. In his remarks about Miami, President Toledo discussed the strong ties that unite Peru and Florida and the dynamic trade relationship between the two. The President highlighted his many personal ties and affinities to the Florida community, further ratifying his understanding and support of Miami as the natural site for the FTAA’s permanent home.
Governor Jeb Bush led the Florida Business Development Mission, comprised of 70 business and government leaders, to Lima, Peru, following a visit yesterday to Ecuador, where Miami received positive news about its efforts to secure the FTAA Permanent Secretariat. The mission was coordinated by Enterprise Florida and sponsored by the following organizations: Florida FTAA, Bacardi, Citigroup, AGYCON, International Finance Bank, BIF, and the Peruvian- American Chamber of Commerce.
“Peru is among Florida’s top 20 trade partners and offers a wealth of international business opportunities for companies in a variety of industries throughout the Sunshine State. This trade mission to Lima is very important to our state’s trade expansion needs and to our effort to diversify Florida’s economy,” said Governor Bush.
“President Toledo’s commitment to support Florida will have a tremendous impact on our ongoing campaign to bring the FTAA Secretariat to Miami. I am deeply humbled and honored to accept this endorsement on behalf of the residents of Florida. As we have done with previous FTAs, such as DR-CAFTA, I will work hard to ensure that the currently negotiated FTA between the U.S.
and Colombia, Peru and Ecuador is finalized and ratified by our Congress,” concluded Governor Bush.
Peru’s endorsement comes on the heels of positive comments made by the Honorable Jorge Illingworth Guerrero, Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Trade, regarding Miami’s efforts to secure the FTAA Permanent Secretariat. In a press conference following a private meeting between Governor Jeb Bush and his Excellency Alfredo Palacio, President of Ecuador, Minister Illingworth announced, “Ecuador would be in favor of Miami’s candidacy when the FTAA advances.” He also spoke of the close bond between Ecuador and Florida, commenting, “Governor Bush’s support of the U.S.-Andean FTA process is necessary and greatly appreciated. The Governor and President Palacio had a very positive conversation on both topics: the Secretariat and the U.S.-Andean FTA.” Florida is the number one trading partner of every country in Latin America and the Caribbean, except for Mexico. Taken as a whole, the region represents 59.2% of Florida’s total international trade.
Peru represents Florida’s 19th largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at $1.2 billion in 2004, an increase of 4.5% from 2003 numbers. In 2004, Peru ranked 23rd of Florida’s worldwide import partners and was the state’s 15th largest export destination.
Ecuador is Florida’s 18th largest international trading partner, with two- way trade valued at $1.2 billion in 2004, an increase of 8.8% over the previous year. In 2004, Ecuador ranked 25th of Florida’s worldwide import partners and was the state’s 14th largest export destination.
The importance of this additional endorsement of Florida FTAA’s effort lies in the fact that, while the FTAA negotiation process has been delayed, Miami’s campaign to secure the Secretariat has always maintained its momentum and focus.
“President Toledo’s decision to support Miami, along with the promising news we received yesterday in Ecuador, provides the latest major boosts to our efforts in the hemisphere. Peru and Ecuador’s support pave the way for additional endorsements in the future and will clearly assist in the free trade negotiations in the Andean region and throughout,” said Jorge L.
Arrizurieta, president of Florida FTAA. “This is yet another historic day for our community, our state and for Peru. We are truly honored.” Peru’s endorsement complements the list of countries that have announced their support for Miami, which includes Uruguay, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Costa Rica and Colombia have announced their support of Miami if the respective campaigns of Trinidad and Tobago and Panama do not advance, and Ecuador favorably sees Miami’s bid once the FTAA process reignites.
The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), currently being negotiated by 34 democratically elected Western Hemisphere nations, is intended to be the most far-reaching trade agreement in history. It is an effort to unite the economies of the Western Hemisphere into a single free trade agreement, comprising 800 million consumers with a combined gross domestic product of $14 trillion.
Florida FTAA, Inc. is the private-public entity led by Governor Jeb Bush, City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and officials throughout the State of Florida with the mission that Miami, Florida become the site of the Permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Florida FTAA is chaired by Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Jr. and managed by President Jorge L. Arrizurieta. The administrative offices are located at the Biltmore Hotel Conference Center of the Americas in Coral Gables, Florida.
