Florida as a Gateway to Latin America & the Caribbean – a playbook for Canadian exporters

Date: March 30 to June 15, 2023
Venue: Virtual, three-part webinar series
Location: Miami, Florida, United States of America
Target Audience: All entrepreneurs, export managers and sales leaders looking to grow their business in new markets with a safe, proven, effective approach with a system of companies and services already linked together to support the Florida region.
Sector: Aerospace, Agriculture and processed foods, Arts and cultural industries, Automotive, Chemicals, Clean technologies, Consumer products, Defence and security, Education, Financial and insurance services, Fish and seafood, Forestry and wood products, Industrial machinery, Information and communications technologies, Infrastructure, Investment, Life sciences, Mining, Ocean technologies, Oil and gas, Professional services, Tourism, Transportation, Wine, beer and spirits

Event Description:

Join our initial livestream discussion on March 30, 2023 with Matthew Waldron, Trade Commissioner and Jean Pierre Hamel, Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Consulate General in Miami as well as Jean Pierre Hemel, Susanna Hardy, Chris Chaidez, Nora Bonilla and Florida market experts.

This intro conversation will discuss:

• how companies can leverage online business development tools
• international e-commerce techniques
• grant programs
• digital marketing strategies throughout Florida to grow your exports, sales, brand and business in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Worldwide

Sign up now for the first live webinar. This initial livestream discussion will be followed by a three-part webinar series that will include informational sessions on using Florida as a “beach head” for export development to the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Webinar series part 1: The importance of website localization, targeted marketing and e-commerce best practices (April 13, at 1pm EST)

Participants will learn:

1. How to make the internet work for Canadian exporters in Latin America and the Caribbean 24/7, 365 days a year to help you grow your exports, sales, brand, and business globally
2. The benefits of optimally localized business development (online and in market) for Canadian exporters via Latin America (Spanish) and Caribbean websites, ecommerce and online marketing, search engine marketing, social media marketing, and reporting and analytics programs
3. Case studies of 20%+ year-over-year export growth and return on investment; best practices, takeaways, and live Q&A for your business

Speakers: Matthew Waldron, Jean Pierre Hemel, Chris Chaidez, John Worthington

Webinar series part 2: Distributors, logistics and sales partners for exporters (May 11, 2023 at 1pm EST)

Participants will learn:

1. How to make the internet work for your distributors in Latin America and the Caribbean – localized websites to identify, recruit, onboard, manage and support your local distributors. Florida’s multicultural and multilingual workforce. Of Florida’s total exports to the world, 74% or $50.1 billion in goods went to Latin America & the Caribbean
2. Logistics – Florida as the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean with its extensive infrastructure, 20 commercial airports, 15 deep-water seaports, more direct, nonstop flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other state, #1 in exports by air to Latin America and the Caribbean, major telecommunications hub for Latin America.
3. Sales partners – in-market agents, distributors, and reps. Case studies and best practices. 28.8% of all Florida businesses are owned by a person of Hispanic ethnicity.

Speakers: Matthew Waldron, Hesam Houryaband, Chris Chaidez, Nora Bonilla

Webinar series part 3: Finding clients and boosting sales (June 15, 2023 at 1pm EST)

Participants will learn:

1. Online and offline. Websites, social media. Trade partners, market research, in-person missions and trade trips and fairs. Florida has 44 consulates, 40 bi-national chambers of commerce and 94 sister-city relationships focused on Latin America and the Caribbean
2. Marketing and communications, online and ecommerce. 1,400 multinational firms are located in South Florida alone, many of which serve as their company’s Latin American headquarters. Florida’s strong service support infrastructure can offer your company a number a Latin America- focused services such as accounting, consulting, legal, financial and more

Speakers: Matthew Waldron, Jean Pierre Hemel, Nora Bonilla, Ava Mitzi

Register to attend

• Register now to participate in the initial live webinar on March 30, 2023
• Sign-up for the three-part webinar series beginning on April 13, 20223
• Contact Matthew Waldron, matthew.waldron@international.gc.ca for any questions on this initiative 

Why your organization should participate:

• Develop a first-hand understanding of the opportunities and challenges of doing business in foreign markets
• Gain insights and market intelligence
• Increase visibility of your product or service
• Receive mentoring and coaching
• Receive on-the-ground assistance from the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
• Receive specially developed guides/resources on the gateway region you can work with the TCS on to build your export future.

Trade Commissioner(s) involvement:

Activities organized by the Trade Commissioner Service

• Seminar

The Trade Commissioner, Matthew Waldron, matthew.waldron@international.gc.ca specializes in the Technology/Innovation and Craft Beer and Spirits sectors for the Florida, Puerto Rico and USVI market and can provide information on this and other local events that you are considering, as well as advice on business development in the region.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service offers services free of charge to Canadian exporters and companies that meet our client criteria.