Date: November 7, 2007
Source: Florida Governor Charlie Crist
GOVERNOR CRIST LEADS TEAM FLORIDA TRADE MISSION TO BRAZIL
November 5, 2007
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL Governor Charlie Crist today welcomed more than 200 Florida business, state and local leaders to São Paulo, Brazil, for a five-day trade and economic development mission. During the mission, the Governor will meet with Brazil's top business leaders and senior government officials. Today, Governor Crist signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Governor José Serra of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, to enhance business and cultural exchange between the two states. The Governor also announced a funding agreement between Renewable Fuels of Tallahassee LLC and the Controlsud International Group.
"Florida has much to learn from São Paulo's expertise and leadership in biofuels and renewable energy, as well as other economic sectors," said Governor Crist. "The agreements signed today launch a successful mission and build on the strong foundation of trade between our states. I am confident today's announcements are only the first of many new partnerships and new opportunities."
Brazil is Florida's number-one international merchandise trade partner, with two-way trade valued at $11.3 billion in 2006; an increase of 3.8 percent from 2005. Trade between Florida and Brazil from January to June, 2007, has increased 10 percent from the same period in 2006. Brazil ranks first in total exports from Florida, valued at roughly $8 billion, half of which are goods manufactured in Florida. With a gross domestic product of approximately US$700 billion, Brazil represents roughly half of the South American territory and economy and is the largest country in terms of population in Latin America and the Caribbean.
"Our goals during this mission to Florida's top international trade partner are to expand the strong relationship we already have by identifying new ways to partner with companies and business leaders in Brazil," said Governor Crist. "We are here to reaffirm our vital connection with Brazil and learn from their success in areas such as renewable energy, ethanol and the aviation industry."
About Renewable Fuels of Tallahassee LLC and Controlsud International Group
Renewable Fuels of Tallahassee LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jacksonville-based Green Power Systems (GPS). Through a 30-year purchase power agreement between GPS and the City of Tallahassee, GPS will install a plasma arc gasifier system to convert municipal solid waste into clean energy including electricity. Financing for the GPS activities will be provided through a $182 million funding agreement with Controlsud International Group.
GPS uses plasma torches to convert organic matter (landfill waste) into synthesis gas (syngas), which in turn can be injected into a typical combustion turbine for the production of electricity. The process, known as Plasma Gas Vitrification (PGV), leaves no ash residue, and no toxic or leachable product. Water and air quality is vastly improved in comparison to the incineration of fossil fuels. This renewable energy technology can lead to hundreds of thousands of tons of waste materials being diverted from landfill disposal to electric generation.
The Constrolsud International Group is composed of more than 70 companies providing various products and services including industrial products in aviation and seafaring, sugar refineries and the processing of fruit concentrates, petroleum and mining operations, and telecommunications and transportation logistics services as well as banking and financial services.
About the Trade Mission
During the five-day mission, Governor Crist will meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Clifford Sobel and senior government officials from the State of São Paulo, the State of Mato Grosso, the State of Bahia, and the State of Rio De Janiero. Additionally, the Governor will be meeting with the Board of Directors from the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP) and speak with the American Chambers of Commerce of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero. The Governor will participate in a Brazil-Florida Ethanol Roundtable, visit the Usina da Barra sugar mill (the world's largest sugar mill), and inaugurate the Florida-Brazil business Matchmaker Expo.
Coordinated by Enterprise Florida Inc., the Team Florida delegation includes business and governmental leaders, as well as representatives from economic development and educational organizations. According to Enterprise Florida, Inc., areas for increased exports and investment include agriculture, aviation and accessories, biofuels, computer software, IT hardware, medical equipment, and telecommunications, among others. The delegation will participate in a variety of business development events and trade presentations during the mission, including one-on-one business meetings between Brazilian and Florida companies, a targeted promotional campaign to attract prospective clients, business networking events and market briefings by the U.S. Commercial Service.
Sponsors of the mission include Akerman Senterfitt, American Airlines, AmCham Brasil, Bacardi, Banco do Brasil, Bank of America, CAMACOL, ETH Bioenergy-Odebrecht, Express Travel, Falcone Group, FIESP, Florida Trend, General Motors, Mercantil Commercebank, and Orange County, Florida.
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Protocol of Intentions
Between the State of Sao Paulo and the State of Florida
Protocol of Intentions executed by the State of São Paulo, of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and the State of Florida, of the United States of America, having for purpose the mutual cooperation in areas of common interests of the signatories.
The State of São Paulo, hereby duly represented by its Governor Doctor José Serra, and the State of Florida, duly represented by its Governor, Mr. Charlie Crist.
Whereas, the importance of strengthening the relations between the signatories; the interest on mutual cooperation in various areas; the favorable conditions for the establishment of such a partnership;
Decide the parties hereto to execute this Protocol of Intentions, according to the following clauses:
FIRST CLAUSE
The present Protocol of Intentions has for objective to outline the purpose of the signatories to establish a partnership for the exchange of knowledge and development of actions of common interest in the following areas:
I Biofuels
II Law Enforcement
III Sustainable Development
IV Trade and Investment
V Culture
VI Education
SECOND CLAUSE Implementation of Actions
The implementation of the actions hereof shall be executed by means of proper legal instruments, to be formalized by the signatories, abiding the existing pertinent legislation
THIRD CLAUSE The agents
The signatories hereto shall designate their agents, as in the aforementioned areas in the First Clause, who will deal with the subject areas hereof
FOURTH CLAUSE The Resources
The present Protocol of Intentions shall not imply transfer of financial resources between the signatories, bearing each party hereto their own expenses.
In witness thereof the parties hereto execute this Protocol of Intentions in two versions, being one in Portuguese and the other in English.
São Paulo, November 05th 2007.
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