MILAN, Italy - On November 14 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis led the trade delegation on Day 4 of the mission to Italy. The day included opportunities to interact with startups and businesses in Northern Italy as well as several site visits. In Turin, Governor DeSantis gave remarks at the SelectFlorida Business Seminar to an audience of Italian companies. Many of the businesses represented in the audience were startups in the healthcare and life science industries.

Earlier this week, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Jason Weida led a delegation of Florida-based hospitals and medical companies to the 2024 MEDICA Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany to forge new business opportunities and relationships. Today, that delegation joined the Florida delegation for the remainder of the Italian trade mission for remaining events specifically focused on healthcare and life sciences. 

Read more about AHCA’s MEDICA mission here.

“As a result of today, we’re bringing more business opportunities, jobs, workforce training programs, and apprenticeships to the state of Florida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We want Florida to be the destination state for opportunity, employment, and innovative services.” 

In Milan, First Lady Casey DeSantis—who has championed Florida Cancer Connect and the Cancer Connect Collaborative—joined representatives from major Florida healthcare institutions—HCA Healthcare, Tampa General Hospital, and Mount Sinai—for a visit to the European Institute of Oncology. The visit built relationships between the institutions present and encouraged the future sharing of technologies, treatments, and practices for treating cancer.

“The more minds and companies we can bring together on our efforts to beat cancer, the better,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I was glad to visit the European Institute of Oncology with Florida healthcare providers and encourage them to find new ways to share research, practices, and innovative treatments.”

In Milan, Governor DeSantis and Florida leaders, along with JAXPORT representatives, met with MSC—the world’s largest shipping line—which expressed strong interest in establishing a direct connection between Italy, the Mediterranean, and Jacksonville. This Mediterranean-JAX service will feature Cosentino, a Spanish company specializing in innovative architectural surfaces, which plans to open its first North American manufacturing facility in Jacksonville. The expansion, supported by a Governor’s Job Growth Grant Fund and FloridaCommerce, underscores MSC’s commitment to Florida, where it already operates five weekly services through JAXPORT and has experienced 35% growth in volume from FY2023 to FY2024.

“With Florida seaports serving as key gateways to international markets and over 114 million tons of cargo handled at Florida’s seaports each year, FDOT is thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of this trade mission as our seaports look to further expand and develop markets throughout the world,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “FDOT appreciates the leadership and opportunity from Governor DeSantis, Florida Commerce, and SelectFlorida to help show Florida seaports are open for business.”

Later in the day, Governor DeSantis also visited Italian companies MAPEI, a leader in construction products, and Pininfarina, a renowned design firm. The visits solidified Florida as the best place to expand operations and highlighted the potential for the companies to provide additional workforce training opportunities and specialized apprenticeships in the state.

Read more about today’s activities here.