Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson spoke before a group of 300 about the state of the port on Tuesday morning.
"Our main mission is to create an environment that's sustainable for economic growth and job creation," said Paul Anderson.
Anderson said 2014 was a record year for Port Tampa Bay. They handled 43 percent of all of the fuel in Florida, saw a 20 percent increase in steel cargo and brought in almost $15 billion for the area.
All of these accomplishments are just the beginning for things to happen at the port.
"The future for our state, our positioning with Latin American; the expansion of the Panama Canal and the ability of Cuba opening to cargo are all very bright notes for us to take," said Anderson.
Americans were recently allowed to travel to Cuba for a dozen specific reasons without needing a special license from the government. However, the country isn’t open to cargo just yet. But when Cuba opens for cargo, Port Tampa Bay said they will be ready.
"The Port of Miami can fit in our port 10 times and the same for Port Everglades,” said Anderson. “We have the land to handle new growth that we know is going to come with the opening of Cuba.”