Email: CrespoFJ2@state.gov
Phone: (915) 929-5416
Orange County and City of Orlando Welcome Foreign Diplomats with Experience Florida 2019: Balancing Security and Exploring Economic Growth in a Changing World
(Orlando, FL) Experience Florida 2019 – Orange County and the City of Orlando are honored to welcome representatives from 31 different foreign missions, as part of Experience Florida. Experience Florida is a four-day program for participants to network and strengthen economic, commercial, scientific and cultural relations between the countries they represent and Florida. With assistance of the Consular Corps of Orlando, the foreign diplomats will be provided the opportunity to visit and tour large area employers, local governments, economic development agencies in the areas of science, technology, environment, health, education, business development, and law enforcement.
Specifically, participants will visit the University of Central Florida Campus (UCF) and the College of Engineering, Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center and the Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center; as well as Universal Orlando with a presentation on Universal’s STEM programs. The event will be kicked off with a welcome reception at Universal’s Royal Pacific Hotel where notable attendees will be on-hand to welcome these esteemed diplomats. Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings is scheduled to speak at the reception. The media is invited to this kick off reception.
Through the support and guidance of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions and Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Experience Florida program is in its third year, after successful events in May 2016 in Indian River County and the Port of Palm Beach in 2017.
Participating foreign diplomats will foster connections with representatives from the state and as a result, provide better support to their citizens living in or visiting Florida. Participants will also learn about regional business development opportunities, law enforcement capabilities and emergency management through the program, which provides for a mutual exchange and dialogue on policing, training, and technology in today’s rapidly changing environment.
Representatives from Iceland, Monaco, Germany, Turkey, the Bahamas, Canada, Chile, Belgium, Nigeria, France, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Mexico, Taiwan, Switzerland, Colombia, Brazil, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, St. Lucia, Spain, Grenada, India, Austria, the Netherlands, Haiti, the Czech Republic, Peru, and Japan attended the event. In addition to the aforementioned locations, the participants will also visit the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff’s Emergency Operations Center, the Orlando Economic Partnership, Orlando City Hall, Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Disney World’s Emergency Operations Center and Disney Springs.
MEDIA INVITED TO WELCOMING RECEPTION
WHAT: Kick off Reception for Experience Florida event
WHEN: April 9, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Universal Lowe’s Royal Pacific Resort | 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, FL 32819
WHO: Orange County Government and City of Orlando to host 31 different foreign missions in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions and Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Regional elected officials expected to attend.
About Orange County Government: Orange County Government strives to serve its residents and guests with integrity, honesty, fairness and professionalism. Located in Central Florida, Orange County includes 13 municipalities and is home to world-famous theme parks, one of the nation’s largest convention centers and a thriving life science research park. Seven elected members make up the Board of County Commissioners, including the Mayor, who is elected countywide. For more information, please visit www.OCFL.net or go to Orange County Government’s social media channels.