To promote awareness about the value of international trade to job creation and economic growth in Florida, Broward County's Board of County Commissioners, recently passed a resolution announcing May as "World Trade Month." As 55 percent of Florida's nearly $150 billion in international trade comes through Florida's seaports, the resolution recognized Port Everglades for successfully growing global partnerships in more than 130 countries.

"Florida's ports, such as Port Everglades, are poised for growth, especially on the trade routes to and from South America, Central America and the Caribbean," said Port Everglades Chief Executive Steven Cernak. "Expanding and maintaining our seaports and transportation corridors is essential for Florida to set the path for growth and prosperity in the global arena."

Port Everglades is currently the top seaport in Florida for exports, with more than $13.3 billion worth of export goods in 2011. Exports support over 70thousand U.S. jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Marking May officially as World Trade Month "is an opportunity to educate the public and the state's leadership on the positive economic impact ports make on our state," praised Doug Wheeler, president of the Florida Ports Council.

Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness also sees World Trade Month as a ripe opportunity to highlight what "the United States and our trading partners stand to gain when trade is open, transparent, rule based and fair, showing respect for labor and environmental standards."