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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-85-05370 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, INITIATED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER J. DAWKINS, TO SEEK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FEDERALLY -SPONSORED CARIBBEAN TRADE INSTITUTE/INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER IN THE CITY OF MIAMI. WHEREAS, the City of Miami serves as the chief economic gateway and bridge for world trade with the Caribbean, Central and South America; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami plays a primary role in the provision of basic services including banking, insurance, telecommunications, health and education to the Caribbean in particular and to other countries of the hemisphere; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami has been at the forefront in achieving the overall objectives of the United States policy toward the Caribbean Basin as embodied in the Caribbean Basin Initiative through on -going coordinated events such as the Annual Miami Conference on the Caribbean, the Annual Conference of the Pan American Health Organization Ministers of Health and the Annual Agricultural Marketing Workshop for the Caribbean Basin; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami administration is establishing an International Business Center which could serve as a core site for the inclusion of a Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center; CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 233 085 RESOLUIIG Nu.85-53 7 IREMARKS.----- e NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The City of Miami fully supports the efforts of the City Administration, initiated by Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins, to promote the establishment of a federally -sponsored Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center in the City of Miami. 85-53: CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM The Honorable Mayor and Members DATE May 22, 1985 FILE TO. of the City Commission A Resolution Supporting SUBJECT The Efforts Of The City Administration To Seek The Establishment Of A Sergio Perei a REFFRENC'ES Federally -Sponsored Carib - FROM bean Trade Institute/ F.NCL-O SURFS City Manager International Trade Center In The City Of Miami tilt is recommended that the City Commission approve the attached resolution supporting the efforts of the City Administration, initiated by Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins, to seek the establishment of a federally sponsored Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center in the City of Miami." Upon learning in April that New York Congressman Charles Rangel was sponsoring HR 950 which would provide funding in the amount of $104 million toward the projected total of $154 million needed to build a proposed Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center in Harlem, Commissioner Miller Dawkins immediately wrote to Congressman _ Fascell urging him to use every means available to his office to ensure the establishment of a similar project in Miami where it logically should be located. As you are well aware, Miami serves as the chief economic gateway and bridge for world trade with the Caribbean, Central and South America and plays a primary role in the provision of basic services including banking, insurance, telecommunications, health and education to the Caribbean in particular and to the other countries of the hemisphere. Morever, the City administration is establishing an International Business Center which could serve as a potential site for the inclusion of a Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center. The Office of Governor Graham and Lieutenant Governor Mixon, the Florida Council for International Development, as well as several other local trade organizations including the International Center of Florida, have indicated that they would fully support the City's efforts to seek the establishment of a Caribbean Institute in Miami. A meeting withRepresentatives nearfuturein Washington, Senator Hawkins will be scheduledin D.C. Attachment 85-53t i t r t The Honorable Dante B. Fascell f United States House of Representatives 2354 Rayburn Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Faseell: i Recently, I learned that New York Congressman Charles Rangel is sponsoring Bill H.R. 950 which would provide funding in the amount of $104 million toward the projected total of $1511 mil -lion needed to build a proposed Caribbean Trade lnstiiut,e in Harlem. It is also my understanding that a feasibility study conducted by the U.S. Department of State as part of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, Public Law 98-67, favors the est.abli.shment. of this proposed project. in New York City. I urge you to utilize every means available to your office to encourage the establishment of a project of this nature in Miami where, in my opinion, it logically should be located. As you are clearly aware, Miami serves as the chief economic gateway and bridge for world trade with the Caribbean, Central and South America, and all statistics confirm this fact. Miami's other crucial role is the provision of basic services i.e., banking, insurance, telecommunications, health, education, to the Caribbean in particular, as well as the rest of the hemisphere. The City of Miami's Caribbean experience has been extensive and includes on -going coordinated events such as the Annual Miami Conference on t-he Caribbean, the Annual Agricultural Marketing Workshop for the Caribbean Basin and the Annual Conference of the Pan American Health Organization Ministers of Health Conference. At present, we are establishing an International Business Center which will be operational October, 1985. This proposed center could indeed serve as an ideal site for a Caribbean Trade Institute. OR page 2. - Dear Colleague 1 April 17, 1985 In January of 1984, Senator D'Amato and I hosted a Caribbean Basin Trade Conference in Harlem which was attended by over 200 participants including sixty government officials and business people from 27 Caribbean nations. The concept of a Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center in Harlem generated enthusiastic support. At the request of many of the Caribbean government officials attending the Conference, a Caribbean Basin Development Board was established to promote trade and to facilitate an exchange of information while plans for the Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center go forward. As a result of the favorable conclusions of the Department of State on the feasibility of locating a Caribbean Trade Institute in Harlem and the enthusiastic support of the Caribbean attendees of the Caribbean Basin Trade Conference, I urge you to join me and co-sponsor H.R. 950 which provides for $104 million of the projected $154 million needed to build the Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center in Harlem, New York. The remaining $50 million has already been committed by an international financier who heads the World Trade Center in Geneva, Switzerland. The Caribbean Trade Institute/International Trade Center is designed as a one -stop facility which would provide nearly all the trade related services needed to m., maximize interna__nal trade. The complex would house an exhibit center, government and retail office space, and a hotel-- all key components of successful international trade centers around the world. Such a facility would serve as a clearing house for trade opportu- niti,ts between United States businesses and those of the Carib- bean and the rest of the world. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's World Trade Center, located in New York City, and the World Trade Center Association, an international organization of 45 trade centers throughout the world, have determined that the goals the State Department has concluded are feasible would become a reality if the physical plant needed to carry out the mission of the Caribbean Trade Institute/Internationa 1 Trade Center was built. If you feel free t (5-4365) of have any questions or o talk with me directly my staff. wish to cc -sponsor, please or contact Bill Signer, 85-531 In