Miami-Dade Partners With Barcelona To Boost S.Fla.'s Marine Industry

MIAMI (CBSMiami) --  Miami-Dade County and Barcelona have partnered up to boost Florida's marine industry and create new jobs in the area.

Mayors Carlos Gimenez and Xavier Trias signed a friendship agreement between Miami-Dade and Barcelona to boost commercial, cultural, educational and technological relations between the two cities.

"To strengthen our relationship with the city of Barcelona," said Mayor Gimenez. "We have so much in common. We have our ports and our airports. Also, Barcelona is now the center of technology, something we want; to become the center of technology here in the U.S. A lot of companies in Barcelona want to establish their Latin American headquarters here because we are the gateway to Latin America."

The mayors also signed an agreement between the Marine Industry Association of South Florida and the Barcelona Nautical Cluster to promote and enhance all marine related businesses including trade, events and boating lifestyles between the two communities. The goal is to enhance South Florida's economy and create more jobs.

Mayor Gimenez is calling this a beneficial cooperative agreement, adding that it's important for South Florida to establish relationships with cities around the world.