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Talk of the bay: Economic arm stretches into South America
By Times Staff
Published October 10, 2007
Polishing up its Latin American credentials, Enterprise Florida is opening an office in Bogota, Colombia. The state's top economic development agency chose Colombia for a new South American foothold because of the country's relative economic stability and its proximity to Venezuela. Colombia and Venezuela both rank in the top 10 as consumers of Florida's exports. Together their trade nearly matches that of Brazil, the state's top global trading partner. The office will help steer South American investment to Florida as well as help Florida businesses break into the Andean region. Last year Enterprise closed its office in Venezuela, ruled by anti-capitalist Hugo Chavez. CAT Fund shift may reduce risk Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said Tuesday that she has been quietly lobbying the Legislature and the governor to consider adding property insurance to the special session. The reason? Sink has a plan that aims to reduce risk in the state catastrophe fund and shift day-to-day control of the fund from the Legislature to the Cabinet. The fund sells backup insurance to insurance companies at rates below those on the private market. The state expanded the fund in January in a move expected to lower premiums. But that hasn't happened. If approved by the Legislature before the end of the month, the reformed CAT Fund would recommend to the governor and Cabinet the level and pricing of optional coverages for the 2008 hurricane season. New leader a safe bet for nonprofit Julie Rochman will succeed Harvey Ryland as head of the Institute for Business & Home Safety. Based in Tampa, IBHS is a national nonprofit group funded by the insurance industry. It researches how to improve building construction to resist natural disasters like hurricanes. Rochman arrives in mid November from the Glover Park Group, a Washington-based communications consulting firm, where she ran public relations. She has years of experience in the insurance field, including a stint with the Alliance of American Insurers. Ryland is retiring after 11 years with IBHS.
[Last modified October 9, 2007, 23:26:37]
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