CAMACOL, was founded in 1965 and is the largest Hispanic business organization in the State of Florida and one of the most influential minority business associations in the United States.
2023-2025
What is CAMACOL?
CAMACOL, the United States Latino Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1965, is the largest Hispanic business organization in the State of Florida and one of the most influential minority business groups in the United States.
For five decades, CAMACOL's mission has been to foster the entrepreneurial spirit of Florida's Hispanic and minority communities and, as such, carries out programs to strengthen local business activity, promote economic development, facilitate international trade, and serve the needs civics of the community and the state.
Through its Hemispheric Congress, its emblematic program, CAMACOL has provided companies with the opportunity to establish commercial links in the national and international market for more than three decades. As such, through its Hemispheric Congress, whose mission is to link businesses around the world, promote Miami Dade County and the State of Florida as the state of entry, CAMACOL has provided the business community with the opportunity to establish trade links in the international market.
CAMACOL works with our community leaders and partners at the local, state, national and international levels to ensure that our economy recovers and grows. Our programs focus on fostering job creation, retention and development.
In essence, CAMACOL's mission as an economic promoter is to develop and strengthen small and minority business sectors and facilitate activities that foster economic growth and employment.
How CAMACOL works for me?
CAMACOL has a unique list of available services designed to meet your specific business needs that include the following services and benefits::
• Seminars and workshops to keep you and your company updated in today's complex market.
• Technical and commercial assistance, licenses, permits and documentation requirements.
• Optimized facility for quick and easy business certification of documents.
• State-of-the-art business facilities with conference rooms and meeting spaces available to our members and partners.
• Promotion of local companies.
• Networking events, seminars, workshops and business lunches.
• Business card exchanges and networking outside of business hours. Meet members and community leaders at our events.
• Access the international business sector/establish new markets for your products or services through our Emblematic Programs: CAMACOL/Florida Trade and Hemispheric Congress.
• Business Development Incubator Center
• Business Development Missions
• Miami Film and Media Market: www.miamimedia lmmarket.org
As a valued member of our CAMACOL Family, we will be able to assist and facilitate your needs..
Holidays Baskets Tradition (Jabas)
WHEN
The event takes place every December; with the cooperation of our members & sponsors.
WHERE
CAMACOL Building, 14 Street and Flagler, Miami, Florida.
WHAT
We distribute holiday gift baskets to families in need on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is scheduled to last until all of the Jabas gift baskets have been distributed. Tickets will not be required.
WHY
“We are honored to be part of this
incredible community and are grateful to be able to provide support when it is most needed,” Pedro Mesa, president of the CAMACOL Jabas Committee. "Grateful to be able to continue with this important community event that is part of CAMACOL's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility." Joe Chi, President CAMACOL
The Hemispheric Congress
In 1980 CAMACOL’s leadership created and established the Hemispheric Congress of Latin Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Permanent Secretariat of the Hemispheric Congress as a vehicle and body to promote policies and initiatives in support of the private sector throughout the Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Track Record
As such, the Hemispheric Congress was a pioneer in international business development and spearheaded the free trade movement and was a catalyst of sweeping changes on economic integration, which have revolutionized the international trade landscape of today.
The founders of the Hemispheric Congress had the foresight to envision and established international business forum and information network with two straight forward objectives: the promotion of private enterprise and the strengthening of the democratization process. Consolidated concepts with a united voice that ardently advocated for the enactment of bilateral and multilateral free trade legislation, economic integration and democratization through support of the free trade process.
Innovative leadership and commitment to the principles of free-market and democratization have been iconic guidelines of the Hemispheric Congress. Since its inception CAMACOL and its Congress have supported activities which have fostered job creation and economic integration. Policies and reforms which advocate for the private sector within the parameters of economic and social responsibility; sustainable development through responsible commercial activity.
The Hemispheric Congress has become a strong foundation for free trade and economic integration within the Hemisphere, linking chambers of commerce throughout Latin America with their counterparts in the United States. The initiative was anchored by the “Sanchez-to-Sanchez-to-Smith” trade Concept whereby similar ethnic and cultural roots are the basis for commercial negotiation and integration.
43rd Congress and Beyond
The Congress will continue to support initiatives that foster economic development and social responsibility, and create avenues of dialogue that strengthen the relationship between the public and private sectors.
The President of the 44th Hemispheric Congress is Jorge Briz Abularach, President of the National Guatelama Chamber of Commerce and its former Foreign Minister.
The 44th Hemispheric Congress is slated to take place from September 18 to 23rd at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
In partnership with WTC Miami America Food and Beverage Inc.
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Jose “Joe” Chi Fadsah, Inc.
VICE PRESIDENT
Italo Torrese Latin America Invest Corp.
TREASURER
Fausto Alvarez Fausto Alvarez, LLC.
Alexander Paredes Publix Supermarkets
Dr. Roberto Gutierrez Roberto Gutierrez, MD, PA
José L. Barletta, M.S. Barnews, Miami Oportunidad.
Pedro Mesa Chair Food Industry Sector,
SECRETARY
Jorge Zumaeta FIU Cont. Education
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Wifredo “ Willy” Gort Financial Consultant
DIRECTORS
Pamela Fuertes Miami-Dade College
Diana M. Arteaga Coca Cola Beverage of Florida
Richard Alayon, Esq. Alayon & Associates, PA
Oscar Echevarria Global Expand LLC
EJECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Patricia Arias HONORARY DIRECTORS
Frank Unanue Goya Food of Florida
Benjamín León III León Medical Centers
Daniel Navarro Mc Arthur Dairy
Rafael Olloqui BTS Group
Joseph F. Suarez Managing Partner
Eric Olafson Port Miami
Luis A. Miguel Ocean Bank Dario Perussi Senper Connect
Angel Fandiño Cantera & Associated
Anthony Rivas Rivas Realty of Florida, Inc
Augusto R. Ledesma Int. Mkting Advisors, Inc
Esteban Hernandez
The Hemispheric Congress
Presidents of the Permanent Secretariat through the years
CARLOS SEQUERA YEPEZ, Venezuela, (1981-1982); GASTON ABELLO (EPD), Colombia, (1983-1984); JORGE GUERRERO SERRANO, Chile (1985-1986); PEDRO MIGUEL LAMPORT, Guatemala. (1987); JORGE BEJARANO ORRANTIA, Ecuador, (1988); RAUL LOPEZ-PEREZ, Venezuela (1989); ANTONIO LOPEZ ESCARRE, Costa Rica (1990); HUGO VILLALOBOS GONZALEZ, México (1991). ROBERTO “BOB” LEITH, Puerto Rico (1993); NEWTON EGYDIO ROSSI, Brasil (1994); EDUARDO FACUSSE HANDAL, Honduras. (1995); GUILLERMO MORALES, Bolivia (1996); CARLOS RAUL DE LA VEGA, Argentina (1997); JORGE BRIZ ABULARACH, Guatemala (1998); LUIS TRUJILLO BUSTAMANTE, Ecuador (1999); LUIS SABINES (EPD), Estados Unidos (2000); LUIS CARDENAL, El Salvador (2001); IVAN COHEN, Panamá (2002); JOSE M. AGURCIA, Honduras (2003); FERNANDO LIHN, Chile (2004); ALFREDO CUADRA, Nicaragua (2005); ALFREDO VANEGAS, Colombia (2005); CARLOS FEDERSPIEL, Costa Rica (2006); JOSE MANUEL ARMENTEROS, R. Dominicana (2007); ANTONIO AIRTON OLIVEIRA DIAS, Brasil (2008); INES ZABLAH, Honduras (2009); MIGUEL GOMEZ MARTINEZ, Colombia (2010); DR. CARLOS E. JORQUIERA, Chile (2011); DIEGO MARTINEZ CANO, España (2012); AMBROSIO BERTOLOTTI, Uruguay (2013); ALEJANDRO CONTI, Paraguay (2014); JOSE M. IZQUIERDO ENCARNACION, Puerto Rico (2015). MARCO ANTONIO SALINAS, Bolivia 2017-2018 ROSENDO MAYORGA, Nicaragua 2018-2020 MÓNICA LINARES, THCC - 2020 CARLOS ZALDUMBIDE, Quito, Ecuador - 2020-2021 JERÓNIMO PARRA, Almería - 2021-2022 JORGE BRIZ ABULARACH Guatemala - 2022-2023
Jorge Briz Abularach President of the Permanent Secretariat 2022/23 term
Joe Chi President CAMACOL & Chair, A.I. Hemispheric Congress
Hon. Wifredo “Willy” Gort Chair Emeritus, Hemispheric Congress
Our Services
• Seminars and workshops to keep you and your business up to date. .
• Technical and commercial assistance, licenses, permits and required documentation.
• Ease of commercial certi cation of documents.
• State-of-the-art business facilities with conference rooms.
• Defense of Local Companies.
• Networking events, seminars, workshops, business lunches.
• Business card exchanges and networking after hours.
• Access to the international business sector to establish new markets.
• Incubator Center for Business Development.
• Trade missions
• Miami Media and Film Market: www.miamimedia lmmarket.org
CAMACOL is part of the largest alliance of Chambers of Commerce in the United States with 300 Hispanic Chambers of Commerce within the country representing over 6 millions businesses of Hispanic background who serve a US Hispanic population of over 60 million people representing an annual Hispanic GDP of about $2.8 Trillion dollars.
CAMACOL
1401 West Flagler St. Miami, FL 33135 - T. 305-642-3870 www.camacol.org