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Florida Is Made for Trade
Florida is the third most populous state — and we’re still growing. By 2030, six million more residents are expected to call Florida home, and two million additional jobs will be needed to support our growing economy.
To prepare for this growth and ensure Florida remains competitive, we must continue to seek global opportunities. International trade and investment have long been pillars of Florida’s economic strength — and our future success depends on remaining a premier hub for global business.
If Florida were an independent country, it would rank as the 16th largest economy in the world. Today, Florida’s economy is projected to grow by 2.5%–3.0% year-over-year, consistently outperforming the U.S. average.
Through the International Trade & Investment Office and the Global Florida initiative, we connect Florida’s business community to global markets and promote strategic engagement.
The Florida Chamber focuses on:
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Connecting Florida businesses to global markets across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East/Africa
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Advocating for free enterprise and rules-based trade
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Expanding international trade and investment
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Increasing small business participation in exports
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Promoting policies that eliminate barriers and improve competitiveness
Why It Matters
International trade and investment directly support Florida’s economy and workforce:
Trade
- Over 2 million Florida jobs depend on trade — that’s 1 in 5 Florida jobs
- Florida is the 7th leading state for origin exports by value
- 40% of Florida-origin exports go to countries with U.S. free trade agreements
- Florida ranks 3rd in export intensity, with 37% of manufactured goods exported
- More than 61,000 Florida companies export, 95% of which are small and medium-sized businesses
- Florida exports $4+ billion in agricultural products to more than 170 countries
Investment
266,000+ Floridians are employed by majority-owned U.S. affiliates of foreign companies
- Florida is the 6th highest state for foreign direct investment (FDI)
- International business and foreign direct investment account for approximately 17% of Florida’s total economic activity
Florida Trade & Logistics
Following the strategic direction of the Florida 2030 Blueprint, the Florida Trade & Logistics 2030 (TL2030) study builds on a decade of research aimed at securing Florida’s infrastructure and trade capacity.
The TL2030 study highlights:
- The importance of trade, logistics, and export-oriented manufacturing
- Opportunities for rural economic development
- Florida’s path to becoming a Top 10 Global Economy by 2030
To become the number one state in the nation for innovation and economic development, we must continue to attract and retain high-skilled talent, target growing industries and continue to work toward the recommendations outlined in the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade & Logistics
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