Jacobs talks Trade, Jobs with Former Colombian President Uribe

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs will meet Wednesday with former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to discuss the promotion of U.S.-Colombia trade.

Uribe is leading a delegation of more than 100 Colombian business leaders and elected officials, who will participate in the first U.S.-Colombia International Business Forum at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orange County.   The Forum on July 14, will feature discussions between U.S. and Colombian businesses interested in discovering, strengthening and learning more about opportunities for economic development between Colombia and Central Florida.

Jacobs and Uribe will discuss mutual benefits the trade pact would bring to both regions.

Colombia is Florida’s second largest trading partner with $7.5 billion in goods and services in 2010.   Economists estimate that in the first year of a trade agreement with Columbia, more than 1,700 jobs would be created in Florida.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Commerce projects that 11,000 U.S. jobs are created for every additional $1 billion in U.S. exports.