Date: August 30, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Keith
Blackburn
305-798-5455
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Named Collaborating Partner in the First Ever U.S. Government Certified LGBT Trade Mission
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida) –August
30, 2012–The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
(GFLGLCC), is excited to announce they have been named a “Collaborating Partner”
in the historic first ever U.S. Department of Commerce Certified LGBT Trade
Mission to Colombia, taking place this September 11-15.
The National Gay & Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) along with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay &
Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) is inviting its members to participate in
the The NGLCC-led trade mission, made possible through the Memorandum of
Understanding between the NGLCC and the Department of Commerce, signed last
year.
GFLGLCC Chamber President/CEO
Keith Blackburn will represent Greater Fort Lauderdale in Bogotá, where he will
explore Colombian trade, along with travel and tourism opportunities to Greater
Fort Lauderdale. Blackburn will also participate
as a delegate in the Inaugural LGBT
Summit of the Americas.
The Summit is happening in
conjunction with the trade mission and will bring together LGBT business
leaders from the U.S., Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and
Uruguay. Invited speakers include The Honorable Angelino Garzón - Vice
President of Colombia, the Honorable Peter McKinley, Ambassador of the United
States.
"The support and backing of
the U.S. Government gives the mission increased validation as we work with our
Colombian counterparts and that's good for our members who will be attending
and looking for new and expanded markets," said Justin Nelson, NGLCC
Co-Founder and President. "The mission highlights the administration's
commitment to a fully-inclusive economic recovery."
The trade mission presents an
opportunity for LGBT-certified businesses to meet counterparts, including
buyers and business leaders, and to work with the commerce attaché at the U.S.
Embassy in Bogota and the Department of Commerce to build connections crucial
to international export and import trading.
Background:
The
U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
On May 15, 2012, The United
States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force. The agreement immediately eliminates tariffs
and duties on 80 percent of consumer and industrial products sold to Colombia
and more than halves those remaining from 10.8 percent to 4.0 percent, making
Colombia an incredibly lucrative market for U.S. exporters and providing them
an advantage over exporters from non-free-trade countries.
"With the entry of the
U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement into force, great things can happen for U.S.
businesses. We're excited to support LGBT businesses abroad as well as at home,
and we look forward to working with them to expand their customer base into
Latin America," said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.
About Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce (GFLGLCC):
The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit
organization, with the following Mission Statement: Dedicated to promoting business and economic
opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community in the Greater Fort
Lauderdale area. To be an advocate and resource for all member businesses that
promote equality. To promote tourism
with a unified approach, by working with appropriate and related organizations.
For more information about the GFLGLCC, or to
become a member, please visit GoGayFortLauderdale.com. For media coverage,
press kits, membership kits and live interview requests, please contact Keith
Blackburn at 305-798-5455, or via email at: GoGayFortLauderdale@gmail.com
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