Italy is expanding its trade representation in Miami. The European nation of nearly 61 million people will open a a full-fledged office of the Italian Trade Commission at the Italian consulate in Miami starting in September, Italian officials said.

The move comes as Italy posts record trade with the United States: $52 billion last year. Italy's exports grew 9 percent for the year, expanding Italy's trade surplus with the United States to $21 billion, its largest with any country, officials said.

Italian firms also have been expanding operations in South Florida.

Miami-Dade County recently awarded AnsaldoBreda a $300-million contract to supply a fleet of cars for the Metrorail network. A smaller Italian company, Brieda Cabins, signed a contract with PortMiami to supply four high-tech cabins for operating cranes. And The Trevi GROUP won a contract for maintenance at the Herbert Hoover Dike near Lake Okeechobee, Italian officials said.

Miami hosts trade offices for a wide range of countries including Canada, Brazil and Colombia.