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The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at �����Դ�ɼ��� (FAU) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), establishing a partnership between SERCOTEC, a national agency for entrepreneurship and businesses development in Chile. This collaboration will help create jobs, retain talent and increase revenue of businesses in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

The MOU signifies the commitment between both entities to enhance the educational experience with students in FAU’s College of Business and the economic development of exporters and business owners through a Florida SBDC trade assistance center pilot program.

“This has been a lot of hard work and dedication over the years to make this collaboration happen,” said Sandra Marin Ruiz, Ed.D., regional director of the Florida SBDC at FAU.

The pilot program is three-fold.

For FAU students, the center is connecting them to more than 15 Chilean businesses where they have access to complete market research for each company and gain technical skills in international trade.

“This hands-on and experiential learning process extends our capacity for an even greater level of international trade support,” said Marin, who also serves as the interim assistant vice president for innovation and business development initiative at FAU. “The business assistance is offered to Chilean companies and to our local entrepreneurs and upcoming entrepreneurs in the college.”

Within the international SBDC trade center, clients and businesses with the Florida SBDC at FAU have an opportunity to access the Chilean markets and vice versa utilizing specialized consulting in both SBDC Networks.

This program further supports the economic development and growth with the strategic partners of Broward and Palm Beach counties. The goal is to attract Chilean companies to open operations in South Florida. And, as the international center continues, it will also be replicated within the Caribbean SBDC Network, Marin said.

“It’s the beginning of strong ties and lasting relationships between �����Դ�ɼ���, the Florida SBCD at FAU, SERCOTEC and other international SBDC networks,” Marin said.

To be part of this program, businesses new to export or current exporters please visit