International Business Community

Work Locally, Think Globally, & Act Boldly

When you’re hot, you’re hot. At least that is what I have always felt when it came to the robust international business community located here in Coral Gables. 

Started by a determined group of Chamber leaders in the 1970’s who formed the Committee of 21 (a dynamic team comprised of 11 members of the private sector and 10 members of the public), their goal was to identify, recruit and relocate multinational businesses to the Gables. This was before there was a Miami-Dade Beacon Council or Economic Development Department. They took on the task themselves, taking self-funded trips around the US to meet with companies looking for a greater (or first ever) Latin American presence. This industry group was purely invested in making Coral Gables the Hub of the Americas. 

And it worked. Boy, did it work. 

Their recruitment pitch was simple. How could you do business in Latin America from Houston or Dallas or anywhere else when Coral Gables gave you the best location possible to connect to Central and South America? Why not follow the lead of major industry players and open a Latin American HQ in Coral Gables? 

One of the first to sign-on was Chevron Texaco, which opened their Latin American Refinery and Marketing Operations in Coral Gables. They were the early adopters; soon, others followed. Today, there are more than 100 multinationals that call the Gables home. Many begin their tenure with small operations and grow them as the company’s presence grows. Others arrive to great fanfare. 

Recently, ACI Worldwide relocated both its US headquarters and Latin American office to the Gables. They are setting-up shop in The Plaza, and in conversations with them, it is still clear that the pitch is the same. Location, location, location leads the list. This begins with outstanding CEO housing and the ease with which you can get to any major Latin American city, usually directly, thanks to partners like American Airlines. These multinationals have helped draw in consulates and trade offices to the Gables – terrific partners in culture, business, and diplomacy. As of this writing, there are five new consulates looking to relocate to Coral Gables. Some have been announced, such as Mexico and Guatemala, and others are still in the courtship phase. Either way, to have nearly 30 Consular Corps offices in The City Beautiful again speaks to our global reach. 

Add to the mix our Sister Cities program, which now includes four European partners (Aix-En-Provence, Granada, Province of Pisa, and Seville), as well as five Latin/Central American cities (Antigua, Cartagena, Quito, San Isidro, and Santa Tecla). Each provides connection points across various sectors: business, education, and a commitment to culture. And then there is our Chamber’s Flags on Ponce program that flies high along Ponce de Leon Boulevard every winter and spring to honor countries doing business in Coral Gables. 

As a city and a chamber, we are incredibly proud of the relationships we have with our consulates, multinational companies, and internationally owned businesses. One of the best ways for companies to grow is to open their markets more boldly to the international consumer. Now, post-pandemic, there is even greater opportunity as the world gets smaller and the prospects get brighter.