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Press
Release
Commissioner
José "Pepe" Diaz Secures Endorsement Of
Argentinean Vice President Daniel Scioli In Selecting
Miami As The Permanent FTAA Secretariat
Miami, Fl.
- Miami-Dade Commissioner José "Pepe" Diaz,
chair of the International Trade Consortium and spokesman
for the Board of Directors of the Miami Ministerial and
Americas Business Forum, met with Argentinean Vice
President Daniel Scioli. The meeting was held at the
Biltmore Hotel, on Sunday, June 8, 2003, to discuss the
FTAA Ministerial and VIII Americas Business Forum taking
place in Miami, Nov. 17-21, 2003.
During their
gathering, Vice President Scioli expressed that he
"was extremely excited about what the future may
bring to Argentina upon the signing of the Free Trade Area
of the Americas." Vice President Scioli noted that
"he could not think of a better place than Miami-Dade
County to serve as the site for the permanent
Secretariat."
During his
conversation with Commissioner Diaz, Vice President Scioli
also expressed his desire to host a trade mission in
Argentina. The trade mission will allow key business
people from Miami-Dade County and Argentina the
opportunity to meet and discuss the future of the FTAA and
its impact on our respective communities.
On Friday,
June 6, at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Florida Governor
Jeb Bush, joined by Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose "Pepe"
Diaz, and City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, witnessed the
long-sought Free Trade Agreement between the United States
and Chile. Chilean Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear signed
the agreement for Chile and U.S. Trade Representative
Robert Zoellick signed for the United States. With this
agreement, Chile became the first South American country
to have a free trade pact with the United States. Also
attending the meeting were Ambassadors Chuck Cobb,
Chairman of the Miami VIII Americas Business Forum, and
Luis Lauredo, Executive Director the Miami FTAA.
"The
ceremony was a prelude to the Ministerial Meeting of the
34 Ministers of Trade that will be in held in Miami in
November as they continue negotiations towards the
development of a Free Trade Area of the Americas by the
year 2005," said Commissioner Diaz. "The signing
ceremony at Vizcaya gave us the opportunity to show the
world we are ready and capable to become the permanent
Secretariat."
For additional
information, please contact Carolina Sivoli at (305)
599-1200.
Media
Contact:
Hernando Vergara
Media Relations Manager
111 NW 1 Street - Suite 1085
Miami, Fl 33128-1900
vergaraFTAA@miamidade.gov
Phone: 305.375.2751
Fax: 305.375-5310
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