Florida Coastal School of Law hosted the Northeast Florida International Summit 2003 Thursday. Trade opportunities with the Dominican Republic was the focus of the summit. Mayor John Peyton discussed the City’s role in expanding Jacksonville’s economic base, domestically and internationally.
“We are well-positioned for trade with the Dominican Republic,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot more stability in that area than we have in many years. There is a lot of internal growth there.”
Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood addressed Florida’s current relationship with the Dominican Republic and the potential for growth.
“The Dominican Republic, in many ways, is a sleeping giant as far as being a partner with the state of Florida,” she said. “The facts show that they are our No. 3 trading partner and our No. 2 export market. The U.S supplies 40 percent of total Dominican Republic imports and 56 percent of all U.S. exports flow through Florida.”