Costa Rica Tech Trade Mission
Call Us: 813-391-0302
Florida Tech Firms To Explore Costa Rica!
June 18-20, 2012
Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower
San Jose, Costa Rica
The Trade Mission Producer is Coastal Strategies,
an International Business Development firm based in
Florida since 1988. Experience includes 18 Trade
Missions, all with government agencies, several to
and from Costa Rica. On this Trade Mission the firm
is working closely with PROCOMER, the economic
development agency of Costa Rica, which is providing
the Technology Insight trade show. It is coordinating events with the US Commerce Department at the US Embassy for the official briefings. This Trade Mission is also supported by several of the economic development agencies of Central Florida.
PROJECT MANAGER
Steve Toner, MBA, MPA, is President / Principal of Coastal Strategies, and will be Project Manager of this Trade Mission. He will coordinate the events with
PROCOMER, the Costa Rica economic development agency. Toner
will lead the delegation through the entire Trade Mission and be
available throughout the week to assist participating delegates.
BACKGROUND
Toner has 35 Years Experience in Strategic / International Business
Development, with the last few years in Costa Rica and Panama. He
has planned, organized, produced and led 18 Trade Missions to
Costa Rica, Canada and Europe, several on contract with Enterprise
Florida, the state's economic development agency, through various economic development organizations in Florida. He earned his MPA at University of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his MBA at Northern Kentucky University. He holds the widely recognized International Trade Certificate, as well as other professional designations.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Toner provides market research/intelligence, strategic planning, and implementation of business development services for some of America’s largest professional services firms, as well as small and medium size firms. He provides real estate brokerage services for commercial and residential investments. Services provided through strategic partnerships include insurance on international trade and political matters.
For his economic development clients, as well as some private sector clients, he has led and/or conducted 18 international trade missions. This has involved taking groups of businesses (10 to 20 firms) into other countries to penetrate those markets, resulting in the sales of millions in products and services; brokering investments, and facilitating the establishment of new operations in Latin America, Europe, Canada, and Florida.
For individual private sector clients, he has provided business development services from market intelligence research to ascertain best options for clients, followed by strategic planning to achieve client objectives. Implementation services (marketing, sales, public relations) have been provided, acting as staff or as a supplement to a client's staff, on expansions into new markets.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on Coastal Strategies, see www.CoastalStrategies.com
Previous Trade Mission Delegation in front of US Embassy in Costa Rica after Commercial Briefing
Previous Trade Mission Delegates Met with President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica
Previous Trade Mission: American Ambassador Peter Brennan (L) welcomed Steve Toner (R) and the Florida delegation to his Official Residence for the Trade Mission Reception.
Producer
Coastal Strategies, Inc.
International Business Development & Investment
Tampa, Florida USA
www.CoastalStrategies.com
Steve@CoastalStrategies.com
PH (813) 391-0302
FX (813) 882-0022
_______________________________________________________________________________
News Release
Contact:
Steve Toner
(813) 391-0302
Steve@CoastalStrategies.com
www.CostaRicaTECHTradeMission.com
For immediate release
Central Florida Tech Firms Explore New CAFTA Opportunities
via Trade Mission to Costa Rica
Florida Tech Executives Get Briefed in US Embassy and Meet Tech Counterparts at Trade Show
April 16, 2012 -TAMPA, FL- A trade mission from Florida to Costa Rica will be conducted on June 18 through the 20th for the technology industry. On day one, Monday, June 18th, the Trade Mission chartered bus will take participants to the American Embassy for a Commercial Briefing by the US Department of Commerce; followed that evening by the official Trade Mission Reception at the InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower. High level dignitaries from Costa Rica and the US Embassy will be invited, including the American Ambassador.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, June 19-20, Trade Mission events will be conducted at the Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower. Here delegates will participate in a two day tech trade show provided by PROCOMER, the economic development agency of Costa Rica. One on one appointments will be prearranged, and participants will enjoy a special international delegates' dinner as well as networking receptions, and other events.
The three day program is supported by several Florida county economic development agencies, and Procomer, the economic development agency of Costa Rica. It is produced by Coastal Strategies, an international development firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida. Limited participation is based on a first come basis, and sponsors are welcome.
The trade mission is just one more sign of increased trade and investment as a result of the 2010 Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) Treaty, which has laid the groundwork for increased trade opportunities between US and Costa Rica, and the potential of increased job growth. Many Florida firms are already taking advantage of the CAFTA Treaty which went into effect in 2010, as overall merchandise trade between Costa Rica and Florida was up 36.5% in 2010 over 2009, totaling over five billion dollars ($5,024,800,000) ; which ranks Costa Rica 8th in size of Florida trading partners (source: Enterprise Florida).
The Treaty has clearly paved the way for Florida businesses. According to the US Commerce Department (www.Export.gov), "The CAFTA-DR requires important reforms of the domestic legal and business environment that encourage competitive business development and investment, protect intellectual property rights, and promote transparency and rule-of-law in the democratic systems that have solidified in the region over the past decade. The Agreement is an important instrument to support U.S. national security interests; the FTA promotes closer economic cooperation among the Central American countries, thereby advancing regional integration and contributing to greater peace and stability in the region."
While the Fortune 500 firms have the resources to take advantage of this profitable opportunity, small to medium size firms often look for direction, introductions and assistance through government agencies and/or international business development firms that are experienced with optional strategies for such markets. This trade mission provides exactly that type of assistance.
Why do business with Costa Rica; why now? There are some incredible numbers supporting Costa Rica; here’s just a few: Costa Rica is now the 4th most competitive country in Latin America according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, and 2009 World Economic Forum. It is ranked 36th in the World Health System per the World Report 2000-Health systems for improving performance. It has been named the “Central American Country of the Future” by FDI Magazine (2007-2008).
In addition to the ratings, recognized authorities are citing this amazing development. The Global Competitive Report 2009-2010; 2009 World Economic Forum said this about Costa Rica “One of the most competitive economies in Latin America and the Caribbean; at 55th position, it comes ahead of Mexico (60th), Panama (59th) and Brazil (56th), among others”. The CAFTA Treaty and resulting business increases are anticipated to improve on this growth.
The details of the three day Costa Rica TECH Trade Mission are listed on the mission web site www.CostaRicaTECHTradeMission.com . Florida technology industry firms interested in more information or registration can also contact the trade mission producer, Coastal Strategies, Inc., Steve Toner, Principal, at (813) 391-0302, or Steve@CoastalStrategies.com .
Coastal Strategies Inc. is a Florida based business development and investment firm, that is working with government agencies in the US and Costa Rica, and support from Florida economic development agencies to conduct this trade mission. Coastal Strategies has conducted eighteen similar trade missions working with various government agencies and NGO’s to Europe, Canada, Latin America, and into Florida. This is the fifth trade mission with Costa Rica, following on successful missions in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (for more on Coastal Strategies, please see www.CoastalStrategies.com ).
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Coastal Strategies
Steve Toner
PROCOMER, Costa Rica's Economic Development Agency, works hard to assure an excellent and successful program for all participants.
The Professionals at the US Commerce Department provide world class programs to maximize trade and investment under the new Free Trade Agreement.
Previous clients now have strategic relationships in Costa Rica with multiple offices.
Previous Trade Mission: President Laura Chinchilla visited the participants at their on-on-one interview tables after addressing the forum and assuring her priority on trade issues.
Previous Trade Mission: The networking receptions provide further opportunities to meet fellow professions and form relationships.
