Trade Delegation Targets Shipping
(Image provided by the Ports of Indiana) The Port of Indiana Burns Harbor is Indiana's port on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indiana trade delegation is in Québec today to discuss the impact of a $9 billion shipping infrastructure investment in the Canadian province. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith and Ports of Indiana Chief Executive Officer Rich Cooper are leading the trade mission, which is a continuation of a partnership focusing on expanding maritime trade between the state and province.
The collaboration and the Québec Maritime Strategy launched last year. Provincial officials says the massive investment will be spread over 15 years and could create 30,000 jobs.
Smith says "Indiana and Québec are both logistics leaders that offer companies a strong competitive advantage when it comes to serving North American and global markets. Indiana conducts $20 billion in trade with Canada, but only a small portion of that moves by water. More than half of Indiana’s border is water, which presents enormous economic opportunities for our state. As Indiana experiences record employment, we look forward to working with Québec to expand our trade and grow our economies together."
The Indiana delegation, which includes Indiana port, steel and economic development representatives, as well as leaders from ArcelorMittal, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and Northwest Indiana Forum, is slated to meet with officials and dignitaries including:
- Québec Associate Secretary General of Maritime Affairs Georges Farrah
- Port of Trois-Rivieres CEO Gaétan Boivin
- Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation Dominique Anglade
- Montreal Port Authority CEO Sylvie Vachon
- Fednav executives
- port officials
- transportation providers
- major manufacturers
The Conference of Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers Regional Maritime Entity recently detailed a strategy aimed at doubling trade along the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway.
