ORLANDO, Fla. – The recent Enterprise Florida-led export sales mission to the FIDAE Air Show in Santiago, Chile produced more than $12.6 million in total export sales for the five small and mid-sized Florida businesses in attendance. All five of the companies that exhibited in the Florida Pavilion received Target Sector Trade Grants. The air show was held April 3-8.
“The FIDAE show was another great opportunity for Florida businesses to exhibit their innovative products and services to a global market,” said Manny Mencia, senior vice president of international trade and development for Enterprise Florida. “The aerospace sector continues to be a strong one for Florida companies and this show provided unmatched access to companies in the Latin American market.”
This year marked the 20th anniversary of FIDAE as the leading aerospace and defense trade show in Latin America. The show is a vital and growing international aerospace event that addresses the full scope of commercial, military and space interests. The 2016 edition hosted some 580 exhibitors from 46 nations whose products and services, including 132 aircraft on the flight line, attracted more than 120,000 professional visitors, including 600 delegations from 31 countries.
Florida is a premier aerospace location, and is a top state for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness. Nearly 500 Florida companies excel in the industry, in areas from aircraft parts and assembly, to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Florida also offers unmatched space launch assets and talent.
“Enterprise Florida supported our international growth strategy – the cornerstone of our firm’s future – by giving us a generous grant to attend FIDAE,” said Adrian Viller, director of international business development for PartsBase in Boca Raton. “Our participation at FIDAE has allowed us to solidify partnerships in South America and beyond, introduced us to new prospects in the hemisphere, and will deliver thousands of dollars in new recurring revenue over the next years.”
“This was the first time Delta International Inc. has officially visited Chile and the FIDAE show in Santiago,” said Tony de la Torre, sales manager with Delta International in Miami. “Overall, the show was a success and great experience with the quality and number of contacts we established. Chile and the surrounding countries of the region (Argentina, Peru) are new markets for us and this show was an important first step in establishing business connections. The grant provided by Enterprise Florida was the determining factor in the decision to attend this trade show.”
Tatiana Vazquez, director of military sales for Ocean Air Defense in Miramar also attended the show. “FIDAE was a very successful event,” said Vazquez. “We hope to continue to work with our new found contacts in hopes of solidifying a mutually beneficial relationship. Our main objective is to make a presence within the Latin American market and support end users directly.”
Enterprise Florida maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. Last year, merchandise trade valued at $147.7 billion flowed through Florida’s ports with Florida-origin exports reaching $55 billion. Florida exported more goods than 190 countries in 2017, making the state one of the world’s leaders in international trade.
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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “FLORIDA | THE FUTURE IS HERE” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.