In 2012, Miami ranked 10th among the nation’s busiest customs districts—up from 14th place the previous year according to WorldCity. A panelist at a recent WorldCity event saw trade opportunities spurred partly by the ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal. We thought it was important to list a few other recent developments in Miami’s and Latin America’s economic landscape:
- Miami International Airport reported a record number of passengers in 2012.
- Copa Airlines sees soaring growth in 2013 and attributes it to the Miami International Airport expansion. Spirit Airlines also expects major growth.
- Disney Cruises sailed out from Port Miami for the first time in January 2013.
- The Carnival Breeze, which will start sailings from Port Miami, will be joined by Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and by Celebrity’s Reflection, all making their debut in 2013.
- The ELMO project introduced at Port Miami in January 2012 has yielded some of the fastest inspection turnaround times in the nation.
- In Colombia, Port Buenaventura, the country’s largest Pacific port, is investing heavily and rapidly due to the Panama Canal timeline.
- Port Everglades is investing $54 Million in renovations to four of its cruise terminals.
- Burger King is expanding its local presence with a new joint venture destined to aggressively expand the BK brand across Central America.
- Jorge Perez Related Group predicts that 2013 will bring a surprising recovery of the real estate market.
- Genting Malaysia is investing $3 billion in Resorts World Miami, featuring four hotels, two residential towers and a 3.6-acre rooftop lagoon.
Everyone seems to agree that Miami is poised for rapid recovery. All the signals point to a brighter Sunshine State, and we, as small businesses, can benefit from it. How can your business take advantage of Miami’s recovery quickly? Come take an in-depth look with Ken Roberts, founder of WorldCity Inc.; Marlon A. Hill, founding partner of delancyhill, P.A. and Miami Co-Chair for the Obama for America Florida Finance Committee; and Katy Sorenson, President and CEO of The Good Government Initiative and former Miami-Dade County Commissioner. Learn more about how these investments and other high-level ventures are shaping opportunities in Miami. Ask those who know how your small business can take advantage of Miami’s Economic Wave of Opportunity.