Mayor’s International Council participates in FISPAL Latin Food Fair and XXVII CAMACOL Hemispheric Congress

As part of its international promotion activities, the Mayor’s International Council participated in the FISPAL Latin Food Fair and the XXVII CAMACOL Hemispheric Congress the week of May 10 – 12, 2006. Over 200 companies and governments from throughout Latin America, Spain and the United States participated in this event whose goal is to match food producers from Latin America with distributors in the United States.

Annual PODER Forum takes place at Miami's City Hall

On Friday, April 28th the Annual PODER Forum took place at Miami's City Hall. The day-long conference brought together some of the Hemisphere's political and business decision-makers, including Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the OAS; Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank; Dr. Emilio Gonzalez, Director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, among others. Commissioner Joe Sanchez, Chairman of the Mayor's International Council, opened the Forum by welcoming all the participants to Miami and its historic City Hall. MIC Board Member Dr. Eduardo Padrón also spoke at the event, highlighting Miami's role as the meeting point of ideas and cultures in the Western Hemisphere.

Mayor Manny Diaz meets with the President of the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce to discuss MIC's outreach efforts in Brazil

On Thursday, March 23rd, 2006 Mayor Manny Diaz met with Olavo Monteiro De Carvalho, President of the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce in City Hall. During their meeting, the Mayor and Mr. Monteiro De Carvalho discussed the Mayor’s International Council’s recent outreach efforts in Brazil to promote the City of Miami as a business destination for Brazilian companies and investors, and exchanged ideas about the upcoming MIC mission to Brazil.

MIC Agrees to Support Performing Arts Center's International Programming Efforts

At the March 21st, 2006 Mayor’s International Council (MIC) board meeting, Michael Hardy, President of the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Trust, gave a presentation on the international programs that the PAC is implementing when it opens in October. The Council agreed to support the PACs efforts to expand its programming by reaching out to its sister city’s network.

Mayor Manny Diaz hosts Mayor Luis Castañeda Lossio
of Lima, Perú

As part of the City of Miami Mayor’s International Council outreach activities, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz hosted Mayor Luis Castañeda Lossio of Lima, Perú on February 27th and 28th, 2006 for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at increasing cultural exchanges and promoting trade between Peru and the United States. The agreement looks to take advantage of the Free Trade Agreement recently finalized between both countries. In addition to the signing ceremony, Mayor Castañeda held several meetings with local business leaders, highlighting his administration’s accomplishments over the past three years.

On Wednesday, January 25th, 2006, the Mayor’s International Council, in partnership with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, hosted a business breakfast with His Excellency John Bruton, the European Union Ambassador to the United States.

During the breakfast, Ambassador Bruton gave an overview of the European Union (EU), its relationship with the United States and the role the EU is playing in world affairs. At the end, members of Miami’s business community had an opportunity to interact with Ambassador Bruton. Commissioner Joe Sanchez, Chairman of the Mayor’s International Council, welcomed the Ambassador to Miami and presented him with a Key to the City on behalf of the Mayor and the Commission

Mayor’s International Council participates in Team Florida trade and advocacy mission to Lima, Perú

The Mayor’s International Council participated in a Team Florida trade and advocacy mission to Lima, Perú on January 18th – 20th, 2006, led by Governor Jeb Bush. During the visit, Commissioner Joe Sanchez, Chairman of the Mayor’s International Council, held several meetings with Lima Mayor Luis Castañeda Lossio and members of his staff to discuss and finalize a Memorandum of Understanding between the two cities that is expected to be signed in February, 2006.

During the two day visit, the group also met with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, who announced Peru’s official endorsement to Miami’s candidacy for the permanent seat of the FTAA Secretariat. The official agenda included meetings with members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Peru, the Lima Chamber of Commerce and several Peruvian business leaders.

Mayor Diaz meets with Czech Republic's Ambassador Petr Kolar

On Tuesday, January 17th, 2006, Mayor Manny Diaz met with His Excellency, Petr Kolar, the newly appointed Czech Republic’s Ambassador to the United States. This was Ambassador Kolar's first visit to South Florida. During his meeting with the Mayor, they discussed the Czech Republic’s commitment to continue supporting the efforts of the international community to combat Human Rights violations worldwide, but especially in Cuba. Ambassador Kolar was presented with a Key to the City by Mayor Diaz.