Business in Miami is booming despite the economy. The Downtown/ Brickell area is the second largest concentration of international banks in the United States and located right next door is the Port of Miami which is known as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” as it has been the number one passenger port in the world for decades. Do to the fact that it is the main connecting city for Latin America, Miami International Airport is number one in freight and forward as well as most international flights in the United States. The Health District, or Civic Center, is the second largest concentration of medical and research facilities, and biotechnology industries in the United States. Other important industries in Miami-Dade are IT & Telecommunications, Film & Entertainment, Professional Services and International Business.
According The Beacon Council, the Top 10 Reasons to relocate and expand in Miami are:
1. More than 100 international consulates, trade offices, and bi-national chambers of commerce that support the worldwide flow of goods and services.
2. Convenient direct air service from Miami International Airport to all major destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean – more flights to the region than any other U.S. airport.
3. Ability to ship goods efficiently anywhere in the world through the Port of Miami, Florida’s largest container port.
4. A central location in the Western Hemisphere and in the Eastern time zone, facilitating communications with Europe and the western United States.
5. Excellent business climate with no local or state personal income tax.
6. Skilled multilingual, multicultural workforce drawn from more than 100 nations.
7. Strong, growing domestic economy serving more than 5.5 million South Floridians.
8. Ready access to sophisticated international banking, insurance and legal services, and other professional services.
9. High quality of life with a wide range of housing options, year-round outdoor recreational activities, renowned cultural institutions and four major professional sports franchises.
10. Financial and workforce training incentives available to qualified companies.
Miami is an Alpha-World city, leading in finance, international trade, commerce, media and medical research/facilities. International companies continue to pour into Miami, making Miami’s business world stronger with each passing day. Some major world companies that keep their headquarters in Miami are Bacardi, Burger King, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Espirito Santo Financial Group, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Perry Ellis, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, RCTV, Ryder Systems, Telemundo, Univision, and U.S. Century Bank. Others that keep their Latin American headquarters in Miami are AIG, American Airlines, Disney, FedEx, Kraft, Microsoft, Sony, Visa and Wal-Mart. The unemployment rates are at a record-low for one of the United States largest metropolitan areas and the population is still growing rapidly. So, why not Miami for business?