Conference highlights hemispheric port expansion activity
Conference highlights hemispheric port expansion activity
WASHINGTON -- Dynamic Western Hemisphere port development activity became readily apparent at the spring conference of the American Association of Port Authorities, which is based in Alexandria, VA.
The association's spring meeting was held March 31 at the Willard Inter- Continental Hotel, here. Presenters from the United States and other countries spoke April 1 at the conference, which ended with the Mexican port administration hosting a social engagement at the Organization of American States.
Diego Ferrer, the commercial counselor from the Panamanian Embassy in Washington, described the work underway to expand the Panama Canal. Mr. Ferrer said that, in the simplest terms, the canal is being widened to three lanes from two. The third lane, however, is much larger and more sophisticated than the two traditional channels of the Panama Canal. The world's largest ships will be able to traverse Panama when the construction is complete.
This construction will be highlighted June 17-21 when the association's XVII Latin American Ports Congress will convene in Panama City. During the April 1 meeting, Gicela Kinkead, an executive manager within the Autoridad Maritima de Panama (Maritime Authority of Panama), based in Panama City, invited the trade to attend this meeting. Ms. Kinkead told The Produce News that the expansion of the Panama Canal -- and the ability to accommodate the world's largest containerships -- will secure Panama's role in the future of global trade.
Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States, described the Canadian government's policy on gateways and corridors.
"We are proud of Canada's 'Asia-Pacific Gateway & Corridor Initiative,'" Mr. Wilson said. "This is a very high-profile and high-priority initiative that has taken many years of long, hard work to bring to fruition, to take strategic advantage of western Canada's favorable geographic location vis " vis Asian markets. We are improving the port, road and rail networks in the British Columbia lower mainland and Prince Rupert, and across western Canada, leading into the economic heartlands of North America, as well as at major airports and land border crossings."
This is a key part of Canada's "international trade strategy, and indeed our economic agenda," the ambassador said. "The commitment is real: Since October 2006, more than $2.2 billion in projects have been announced by the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including over $860 million in federal contributions."
The Prince Rupert portion of the Gateway & Corridor Initiative gives "the exciting and rare opportunity of witnessing the birth and expansion of a new container port on our west coast. The Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal is now open for business, with some 95 percent of its inbound containers bound for U.S. markets, going by rail to Chicago and Memphis," Mr. Wilson said.
"At the same time, we are working to develop the Atlantic Gateway," he said. "The goal is to establish the Atlantic Gateway as a strategic, integrated and globally competitive transportation system, facilitating the movement of international commerce on North America's east coast. This, too, is an exciting new opportunity for Canada's Atlantic ports to take advantage of international trade."
Cesar Reyes, coordinator of Mexican ports and maritime shipping within the administration of seaports for Mexico's secretary of communications and transportation, detailed his country's port development projects, which include the construction of four new ports and upgrading facilities in many other Mexican seaports.
Mr. Reyes said that Mexico is putting an equal emphasis on upgrading its ground transportation infrastructure.
Jack Schenendorf, vice chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Study Commission in Washington, DC, said that the United States needs to annually invest - every year for the foreseeable future - $225 billion to maintain and upgrade its ground transportation facilities. The country is now spending $87 billion a year.
"We are at a crossroads if we continue on the path of underinvestment" in infrastructure, Mr. Schenendorf said. "We will have a second- or third-tier transportation system, which will undermine our economic prosperity."
The association's spring meeting was held March 31 at the Willard Inter- Continental Hotel, here. Presenters from the United States and other countries spoke April 1 at the conference, which ended with the Mexican port administration hosting a social engagement at the Organization of American States.
Diego Ferrer, the commercial counselor from the Panamanian Embassy in Washington, described the work underway to expand the Panama Canal. Mr. Ferrer said that, in the simplest terms, the canal is being widened to three lanes from two. The third lane, however, is much larger and more sophisticated than the two traditional channels of the Panama Canal. The world's largest ships will be able to traverse Panama when the construction is complete.
This construction will be highlighted June 17-21 when the association's XVII Latin American Ports Congress will convene in Panama City. During the April 1 meeting, Gicela Kinkead, an executive manager within the Autoridad Maritima de Panama (Maritime Authority of Panama), based in Panama City, invited the trade to attend this meeting. Ms. Kinkead told The Produce News that the expansion of the Panama Canal -- and the ability to accommodate the world's largest containerships -- will secure Panama's role in the future of global trade.
Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States, described the Canadian government's policy on gateways and corridors.
"We are proud of Canada's 'Asia-Pacific Gateway & Corridor Initiative,'" Mr. Wilson said. "This is a very high-profile and high-priority initiative that has taken many years of long, hard work to bring to fruition, to take strategic advantage of western Canada's favorable geographic location vis " vis Asian markets. We are improving the port, road and rail networks in the British Columbia lower mainland and Prince Rupert, and across western Canada, leading into the economic heartlands of North America, as well as at major airports and land border crossings."
This is a key part of Canada's "international trade strategy, and indeed our economic agenda," the ambassador said. "The commitment is real: Since October 2006, more than $2.2 billion in projects have been announced by the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including over $860 million in federal contributions."
The Prince Rupert portion of the Gateway & Corridor Initiative gives "the exciting and rare opportunity of witnessing the birth and expansion of a new container port on our west coast. The Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal is now open for business, with some 95 percent of its inbound containers bound for U.S. markets, going by rail to Chicago and Memphis," Mr. Wilson said.
"At the same time, we are working to develop the Atlantic Gateway," he said. "The goal is to establish the Atlantic Gateway as a strategic, integrated and globally competitive transportation system, facilitating the movement of international commerce on North America's east coast. This, too, is an exciting new opportunity for Canada's Atlantic ports to take advantage of international trade."
Cesar Reyes, coordinator of Mexican ports and maritime shipping within the administration of seaports for Mexico's secretary of communications and transportation, detailed his country's port development projects, which include the construction of four new ports and upgrading facilities in many other Mexican seaports.
Mr. Reyes said that Mexico is putting an equal emphasis on upgrading its ground transportation infrastructure.
Jack Schenendorf, vice chairman of the National Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Study Commission in Washington, DC, said that the United States needs to annually invest - every year for the foreseeable future - $225 billion to maintain and upgrade its ground transportation facilities. The country is now spending $87 billion a year.
"We are at a crossroads if we continue on the path of underinvestment" in infrastructure, Mr. Schenendorf said. "We will have a second- or third-tier transportation system, which will undermine our economic prosperity."
