by Sean McManus
Staff Writer
In a continued effort to cement business relationships with foreign companies, four local leaders are flying to London next week to spread the word about the economic opportunities here.
The trip is being organized by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Department of Commerce and Enterprise Florida, the statewide economic expansion group. Together, the team hopes to gain increased exposure for the state — and Jacksonville — in front of United Kingdom-based companies that are looking to expand into the United States — and maintain those that already have.
Wally Lee, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Lynn Pappas, chair of the Chamber, Jerry Mallot, head of Cornerstone, and City Council vice president Lad Daniels, will be accompanying 125 other Florida leaders for the week-long junket.
“This is a great chance to go on a trip like this with the governor,” said Daniels, who, as a big proponent of international trade, is frequently called upon to accompany the Chamber on trade missions abroad. “Jeb can open a lot of doors.”
Saying that the future of Jacksonville is tied to its ports, both air and sea, Daniels noted that in his capacity as an elected official, his role will be to assure prospective business partners that the City is committed to working with foreign companies to help ease the pains of international commerce.
“We’re going directly to the CEOs,” said Daniels, who has been to South Africa, Spain and Korea on official trade business. “That way we will be dealing directly with the major decision-makers.”
Robin Shepherd, who is from England and runs The Robin Shepherd Group, a local advertising and public relations agency, said that many companies in England would like to expand to markets in the United States — and especially Florida — but don’t know how.
“The Chamber is the perfect liaison to help work with companies to navigate the tax laws and explore the ins-and-outs of commerce in Jacksonville,” said Shepherd. “Jacksonville is also a good place for an introduction into the United States in general; we’ve proven ourselves as a test market and it’s relatively inexpensive to do business here.”
Shepherd also said the climate in Florida can be pretty tantalizing for those accustomed to dreary, rainy seasons all year.
“The British would love to live here,” he said, “it’s just that they’ve only heard of Miami.”
While in England, the economic expansion team will visit the second largest air show in Europe, the Farnborough Air Show, where every major aviation company in the world will be showing off its latest equipment.
“We will be catching the heads of global aviation companies at a time when they’re checking out the competition and thinking about their future,” said Mallot. “And we already have meetings set up with most of them.”
Mallot said that in addition to aviation, London meetings are set with leaders of financial services institutions, transportation companies and telecommunications companies, in addition to companies who already do business in Jacksonville.
“Gov. Bush, especially since he’s the president’s brother, is getting us in at the highest level,” said Mallot. “From there we will be attending meetings to focus very specifically about Jacksonville and North Florida.”
Daniels said that he plans on pitching Jacksonville as a place where a lot of expert ex-military and defense personnel call home, as well as promote the pro-business climate.
“It takes a long time to build these kinds of quality relationships,” said Daniels, “and all I know is that every trip like this I’ve been on, there’s absolutely no time for shopping.”
Daniels said he will speak to Council president Jerry Holland about whether, in addition to a standard trip report, it would be appropriate to make a formal presentation to City Council following the trip.