with Americas Linkage Program Trade Missions to Eight Countries Delegation to Argentina to Be Key Partner in First Biofuels Congress Featuring Former Vice President Al Gore Business Editors/News Editors/Hispanic Editors MIAMI-- --March 13, 2007--Florida entrepreneurs and executives from the professional and ...

Business Wire via NewsEdge Corporation :

with Americas Linkage Program Trade Missions to Eight Countries Delegation to Argentina to Be Key Partner in First Biofuels Congress Featuring Former Vice President Al Gore Business Editors/News Editors/Hispanic Editors MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2007--Florida entrepreneurs and executives from the professional and services sector are heading for Latin America and the Caribbean to promote business opportunities and strengthen two-way trade between Florida and the region with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

More than 100 executives are expected to participate in trade missions to 11 cities in Latin America between April 9 and May 24 as part of the Greater Miami Chamber's "Americas Linkage Latin America and Caribbean Program 2007." The itinerary is comprised of U.S. Embassy briefings, business meetings and networking events over a two-day period in each city.

"Even in the globalized age of instant communications, face-to-face interaction is still a foundation of business," said Adolfo Henriques, the Greater Miami Chamber's chairman. "The program has proven successful in connecting Florida professional services entrepreneurs with potential clients and partners in the region; it is of mutual interest to continue fostering these relationships and opening doors that can result in business deals."

Americas Linkage will be conducting missions to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Sao Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Bogota, Colombia; San Jose, Costa Rica; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico; and Panama City, Panama. Florida executives will meet with high level representatives from local chambers of commerce, government trade offices and private corporations.

In Argentina, the Greater Miami Chamber will partner with the Inter-American Development Foundation in Washington D.C. and Fundacion Campo en Accion in Argentina, both hosting the First Biofuels Congress of the Americas (www.biofuelscongress.org) to be held in Buenos Aires on May 10 and 11, 2007. The Congress will feature former Vice President Al Gore as the keynote speaker and the Vice President of Argentina, Daniel Scioli, who will be delivering the opening remarks and introducing Al Gore. Mission participants will receive special incentives upon time of registration for the conference.

Americas Linkage is the only statewide initiative dedicated to enhancing the exports of key Florida services and plays an integral part of the Greater Miami Chamber's International Services Network (ISN), a program created to facilitate commerce between Florida's firms and companies worldwide.

"As the chamber marks its 100th Anniversary, it is only fitting that we celebrate it doing what we are intended to do: fostering business opportunities," Henriques said. "We're pleased that corporations throughout the state will join us in this commitment."

Americas Linkage, now in its eighth year, is a partnership between the Greater Miami Chamber and American Airlines with assistance from Enterprise Florida, Inc. The carrier has been a part of the program since its inception and provides low roundtrip fares to the destination cities. This initiative is also supported by InterContinental Hotels Group, Business Centers International, EDF Communications and WTDC.

For registration and sponsorship information, please visit www.miamichamber.com or contact Juan Pablo Gonzalez at 305-577-5477 or jgonzalez@miamichamber.com.

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professions organized to create economic progress in Miami-Dade County. To carry out its mission, the Chamber serves as the voice of business enterprise and involves the private sector in community leadership. Since its inception in 1907 as the Miami Board of Trade, the organization - known today as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce - has been widely recognized and respected for its record of economic development and community improvement throughout the years. With its rich legacy of leadership, the Chamber is positioned to build on its record as it continues to help build a greater Miami.