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WTDC and Empresas Perrot launch Chile-US service

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WTDC News – November 4, 2020

  • President’s Corner – Gazitua family legacy
  • No Sail Order lifted by CDC
  • WTDC and Empresas Perrot offer Chile-US service
  • Mark your calendars – WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua joins logistics panel
President’s Corner
My brother Luis Andre and I joined my cousins Carlos and Luis Gazitua on the October 23rd edition of Cafecito Chat with Saif Ishoof, FIU Vice President of Engagement. Special thanks to all our professional colleagues who tuned in to watch us survive a comical round of rapid-fire questions before we settled into our discussion on the Gazitua family’s commitment to service and leadership in our community. Part of the discussion focused on family legacy and it was such a pleasure to hear the stories of my grandparents Mercedes and LR Gazitua who built a logistics enterprise from humble beginnings. We all shared how we take great pride in that legacy and the way they treated their family, friends, and employees. Each of us in the discussion described how the pandemic has affected our businesses and our employees. We’ve all taken steps to protect and serve our employees during these unprecedented times and the good name of our grandparents inspires us to continue treating others like family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors in Central America’s Caribbean coast affected by Hurricane Eta this week. Stay safe, Sean Gazitua WTDC President & CEO  Image caption, clockwise from top-left: Sean Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO, Saif Ishoof, FIU Vice President of Engagement, Luis Andre Gazitua, Esq., Gazitua Letelier, PA, Principal, Luis Gazitua, JAG Insurance Principal, and Carlos Gazitua, President & CEO of Sergio’s Family Restaurants.
Send an email to WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua
 
WTDC and Empresas Perrot launch Chile-US services
WTDC, a Foreign Trade Zone and Freight Forwarder in Miami, Florida, USA, and Empresas Perrot Group Inc., a premier Trucking and Logistics Provider in Santiago, Chile, went “live” this week with their offering of door to door logistics services between the U.S. and Chile including customs documentation, transport via road, air, and ocean, and customs documentation. The two companies will improve the customer experience with a focus on technology and concierge customer service. Do you have U.S. to Chile or Chile to U.S. logistics business that you would like WTDC to review for efficiency and cost-savings? Email us here.
WTDC Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving – Closed November 26 & 27 Christmas – Closed December 25 New Year’s – Closed January 1
 
CDC ends No Sail Order
On October 30th, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order and did not extend the No Sail Order that has sidelined cruise ships since March 2020. While this order does translate to an instant return to cruising, it does set up the phased parameters for sailings that are safe for passengers and crew with significant emphasis on public health and safety.
CDC: Cruise Ship Guidance
 
WTDC in the Halloween Spirit
On Friday, October 30, WTDC employees and tenants participated in our annual Halloween festivities by dressing up as “Pandemic Heroes” and decorating office doors.
 
Mark your calendars – WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua joins logistics panel
We welcome you to join WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua on Thursday, November 12, at 11 a.m. for a logistics town hall meeting. See below from the organizers: As part of CAMACOL’s International Trade outreach efforts, CAMACOL Doral and the City of Doral will host a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, November 12, 11 a.m.-12 noon. Our topic will be “International Trade & Logistics After COVID”. Doral is the heart of Miami Dade County’s International Trade Sector and home to about approximately 4000 International Trade related companies. We believe it’s important to provide insights the state of this sector including new and innovative business models that have been created as a result of the pandemic.” WTDC will share the login link on its social media channels when available. You can email us here for a reminder.
Meet CAMACOL Doral

WTDC & Empresas Perrot announce strategic partnership

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WTDC Newsletter – October 16, 2020

-President’s Corner: WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua speaks to FIU IBHS

-Save the Date: ProChile’s Chile Connected starts on Oct. 19

-WTDC and Empresas Perrot Announce Strategic Partnership to Create More Competitive Logistics Options for Customers in USA and Chile


WTDC and Empresas Perrot Announce Strategic Partnership to Create More Competitive Logistics Options for Customers in USA and Chile
 
WTDC, a Foreign Trade Zone and Freight Forwarder in Miami, Florida, USA, and Empresas Perrot Group Inc., a premier Trucking and Logistics Provider in Santiago, Chile, announced a strategic partnership that creates seamless connectivity for customers across their complementary domestic and international logistics networks in the USA and Chile. WTDC and Empresas Perrot will be exclusive agents within each other’s countries as part of the agreement.

“Pairing Empresas Perrot’s trucking and logistics network in Chile with WTDC’s expertise as a foreign trade zone, freight forwarder, and customs broker in the USA is a great benefit for customers of both our companies,” said Sean Gazitua, President and CEO, WTDC. “My grandfather was born in Santiago, Chile, so this partnership has special meaning to me. I would like to thank Empresas Perrot’s Owner Mauricio Perrot for his vision and his respect for our family. He represents the second generation of his family’s logistics business and I am a third-generation family owner and operator of WTDC. I look forward to working with Mauricio and the Empresas Perrot team to build a lasting relationship and a service.”

WTDC and Empresas Perrot provide door to door logistics services between the USA and Chile. We offer:
•   Complete supply chain management between Chile and USA
•   Freight Forwarding – Worldwide Air and Ocean transport
•  Warehousing, consolidations, and fulfillment in Chile and USA
•   Customs documentation and clearance in Chile and USA
•   Drayage and port services in Chile and USA
•   LTL and FTL trucking services in Chile and USA
•   Last mile delivery, flatbed, and stepdeck in Chile and USA

WTDC has been working with ProChile Southeast USA, Empresas Perrot, and City National Bank-BCI (a Chilean owned financial institution based in Miami) to develop a door to door logistics program with special benefits for small and medium Chilean exporters. ProChile, a division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, promotes Chilean exports of products and services with special attention shown to small and medium sized enterprises.

Chile is currently ranked as the 26th top U.S. trade partner through August 2020 and ranked 29th in 2019 (WorldCity). South Florida now has two of the top three ports for Chilean trade through August of this year, with Miami International Airport ranking number 1 and Port Everglades ranking number 3 (WorldCity). The U.S. WTDC and Empresas Perrot introduce this logistics service to a trade lane with few barriers and room for growth thanks to the Chile-US Free Trade Agreement. The FTA was updated in 2015 to eliminate most tariffs on imports between either country.

“This strategic partnership with Empresas Perrot will assist WTDC’s growth in the wine and spirits, mining, renewable energy, and technology industries,” Mr. Gazitua added.
WTDC and Empresas Perrot are poised to deliver innovative and efficient logistics solutions for our clients and we look forward to sharing additional details on the success of this partnership.
 
WorldCity: Chile Trade Numbers
USTR: Chile FTA
ProChile

 
WTDC Chairman Ralph L. Gazitua visited with Consul General of Chile in Miami Hernán Núñez Montenegro on October 16, 2020, to update him on the progress of WTDC’s alliance with ProChile, Empresas Perrot, and City National Bank-BCI.    

 
Empresas Perrot visited WTDC the week of October 12, 2020. The companies formed a strategic partnership to deliver door to door logistics services between Chile and the USA. Pictured left to right: Efrain Rodriguez, Empresas Perrot General Manager, Gabriel Bedregal, Empresas Perrot Advisor & Commercial Manager, Maurizio Perrot Sepulveda, Empresas Perrot Ground Transport Manager, Carlos Mauricio Perrot, Empresas Perrot Owner, Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC Chairman, and Sean Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO.



President’s Corner  
On Wednesday of this week, I was the guest speaker for FIU’s International Business Honor Society (IBHS). WTDC has a long running partnership with FIU IBHS in support of their trade mission to Bandhwari, India. Each year, WTDC offers a $1000 scholarship towards student travel for the Bandhwari Women’s Project. My presentation focused on trade and logistics as well as my professional growth from working in the WTDC warehouse to my current role as President & CEO. As an International Business graduate from FIU, I was able to relate real-world scenarios to their studies. I introduced an essay contest to qualify for the scholarship and offered Logistics Internships in Operations and Sales and Marketing. Kristina Khudiakova, WTDC Social Media Intern and President of FIU IBHS, participated in last year’s Bandhwari Women’s Project and oversaw the direction of the Zoom presentation. Lead by the FIU IBHS Executive Board and their Advisor Dr. David Wernick, the Bandhwari Women’s Project aims to build sustainable business models for the women of Bandhwari, India. It’s a pleasure to see the passion these students have for bettering our world!   Send an email to WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua

   
Save the Date: ProChile’s Chile Connected starts on Oct. 19  

Chile Connected is a virtual business meeting that seeks to consolidate the U.S. as a destination market for innovative and high value-added Chilean products and services, such as creative industries, technology, healthy food and women-led businesses. Along with the B2B matchmaking event, Chile Connected will include a series of sector-specific panels with high-level experts and keynote speakers from both markets.  
Chile Connected  

  

WTDC Newsletter – July 16, 2020

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PortMiami prepares for September cruise line return

In a virtual meeting of Miami-Dade Tourism and the Ports Committee on July 14, PortMiami Director Juan Kuryla said that cargo and trade are helping the port stay open during the pandemic.

“We continue working on plans for the eventual reopening of the port to the cruise industry, which as you know has left a very significant void in this community,” Kuryla said.

PortMiami is undergoing significant changes to safety and health protocols to be ready for the reopening of cruise travel. How soon will the cruises sail again? Royal Caribbean plans to sail from Miami to the Bahamas on September 18 with additional lines to follow on October 1.

WPLG: PortMiami stays open for business during pandemic thanks to cargo, director says

PortMiami COVID-19 Message – YouTube

WTDC COVID-19 measures

WTDC continues to take measures ensuring that its employees and tenants are operating in a safe and healthy environment.

In response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Miami-Dade County, especially those cases that are asymptomatic, all WTDC employees will undergo free COVID-19 testing next week.

WTDC employees practice social distancing, temperature checks to begin each workday, are equipped with masks and PPE, and the facility is disinfected daily by a cleaning crew.

While Miami’s rollback to some industries have made national and even international news, the cargo and trade industries are still operating with as much passion and dedication as ever. WTDC looks forward to doing its small part to make sure we see the other end of this pandemic in the near future.

WTDC Internship Program

Welcome to the family business Jonah! Jonah Gazitua is a sophomore at FIU and plans to study Business Management. He joined WTDC as an Accounting Intern this summer, following the footsteps of Vera Gazitua, his mother and WTDC General Manager, and John Gazitua, his grandfather and WTDC cofounder.

WTDC was founded in 1977 by Jonah’s great-grandfather L.R. Gazitua, and his two sons: Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC Chairman, and John Gazitua, now Sergio’s Restaurants CFO.

WTDC President & CEO Sean P. Gazitua is the 3rd generation of the family to manage the company and we are happy to have Jonah on board as the 4th generation of Gazituas to work for WTDC!

WTDC Internship Program

PortMiami renegotiating terminal deals with MSC and Virgin

Miami-Dade Tourism and the Ports Committee moved along two cost saving amendment proposals to leasing contracts for MSC and Virgin Voyages at the meeting this week.

Changes to the MSC contract will lead to a shared terminal for MSC and Disney Cruise Line in exchange for favorable payback terms for MSC. Combining the two terminals will save PortMiami the significant costs of contributing to new construction on two terminals.

Changes to the Virgin Voyages planned terminal will also be a cost savings for the County in exchange for favorable capital recovery terms.

Meeting Minutes: Miami-Dade Tourism and the Ports Committe Agenda – July 14, 2020

Miami Today: Scaled down PortMiami cruise terminal deal adds Disney

Miami-Dade County’s resolution on March 19 to close all non-essential businesses allowed for exceptions and Logistics & Warehouses is one of these exceptions (Emergency Order 7-20, Point 2.y., page 3). WTDC is practicing social distancing and sanitizing our workplace with hospital grade disinfectant on a daily basis. We are following best recommendations of the CDC and our officials from Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida.

WTDC is a Foreign Trade Zone and Logistics company in Miami, Florida, USA. We have been family owned and operated by the Gazitua family since our founding in 1977, a third generation family business, and specialize in the Duty Free and Travel Retail sector. WTDC is a licensed NVOCC, IAC, and is IATA approved.

WTDC.com

Cruise ships update end to their suspension on sailings

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Cruise ships berthing at PortMiami are announcing updates to their suspension on sailings. Notably, MSC announced this week that it will begin sailing July 10. On March 13, all cruises sailing from PortMiami were halted for 30 days and the suspension was later extended upon orders from the CDC. The article features a full list of cruise lines and their current sail dates.

Miami Herald: MSC joins Carnival, Princess, Norwegian in extending cruise suspension into summer

Logistics for Medical Supplies

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WTDC has FTZ & domestic pallet positions ready to receive medical equipment and supplies. Our Brokerage and Transportation departments are working alongside our customers to keep on-top of the changing regulations from FDA & CBP on imports of:

  • COVID-19 test kits
  • PPE
  • N95 masks
  • Ventilators
  • Medical Equipment
  • Medical Supplies

WTDC provides duty-paid door to door services in the U.S. for FDA approved supplies as a Customs Broker. As a Foreign Trade Zone, WTDC can store cargo in-bond then deliver door to door into foreign countries, paying duties via our agent network upon their arrival. WTDC also offers cargo verification and escrow services, useful tool to buyers and sellers.

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