NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2010TRAN0107-001403 Nov. 10, 2010

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

 

B.C. SHARES STAGE WITH WORLD’S LARGEST SHIPPERS

 

GUANGZHOU – The Pacific Gateway Alliance’s presentation at the World Shipping Summit was the culmination of the trade mission’s visit to China, and confirmed the interest that Asia has in Canada’s Pacific Gateway, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond said today. Bond and Pacific Gateway partners are in China to promote the Pacific Gateway and generate new and expanded trade opportunities for the province.

 

“Over the past decade, we’ve been building our trade relations with China, and our meetings in Guangzhou strengthened our many valuable business connections with Asia,” said Bond. “Our Asian customers clearly recognize that the Pacific Gateway is the fastest, most cost-effective and reliable port and transportation system for Asia Pacific traders.”

 

At the World Shipping (China) Summit 2010, the Pacific Gateway Alliance was given a significant opportunity to showcase its model, which is a unique and powerful collaboration infrastructure investment, marketing and customer service between two senior levels of government and the private sector. This is world’s largest shipping trade summit, with 1,000 delegates from global shipping companies and port authorities.

 

“The collaborative approach we have taken with our Pacific Gateway partners has strongly contributed to Vancouver’s excellent trade position within the Asia Pacific region,” said Robin Silvester, President and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. “We look forward with great excitement to the future of our Gateway, with Port Metro Vancouver as a driving force in delivering and leveraging supply chain value for industry and communities.”

 

“Because of the Pacific Gateway initiative, the Port of Prince Rupert has been transformed into an internationally recognized gateway between North America and the Asian marketplace,” said Don Krusel, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.  “The efficiency and effectiveness of this new northern trade corridor will ensure enormous opportunities for northern British Columbia and western Canada as we support the development of our natural resources and advance our trade position on an international level.”

 

“We continue to work with our supply chain partners to ensure that Port Metro Vancouver is the world class gateway for the movement of goods between Asia and North America,” said John McBoyle, VP Marketing & Sales IMS, Canadian Pacific.  “Our long train strategy, best in class safety record, and recently signed operational MOUs with both TSI and DPW container terminals in Vancouver will provide consistent and reliable service for  Canadian Pacific customers using the Vancouver Gateway.”

 

"CN's rail corridors efficiently link the ports at Prince Rupert and Vancouver to key markets in central Canada and the U.S. Midwest,” said Sean Goff, CN general manager – Asia, based in Shanghai. “CN offers superior transit times to these markets and is working in close collaboration with both its main port partners in British Columbia to develop innovative, commercially driven supply chain efficiencies that will strengthen the competitiveness of the province's Asia-Pacific gateways in North American trade."

During the three days in China, the Alliance has shared the stage with the largest shipping companies in the world. Minister Bond was the sole government representative at the CEO's breakfast, where she was given the honour of being asked by Capt. Wei Jiafu, President and CEO of COSCO, a key customer of Canada’s Pacific Gateway ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, with closing out the meeting.  She was joined at the meeting by CEOs of major companies, such as the CEO of the Port of Rotterdam and the CAO of the Panama Canal.

 

Minister Bond also chaired a meeting between Alliance members and Tianjin Shipping, which is interested in securing coal from North America. Tianjin Shipping’s president recently indicated that the company will consider coal produced in Western Canada to meet their needs. The meeting highlighted advantages for Tianjin to ship through B.C.

 

In Guangzhou, Bond met with He Zhongyou, Director General of the Department of Communications of Guangdong Province, which is responsible for Guangdong Province’s waterways, highways and local railways.

 

B.C. and Guangdong Province are sister provinces with an established relationship, and the meeting was held to discuss transportation and trade-related matters to support increased economic cooperation and activity. Guangdong is one of China’s 22 provinces with a population of over 95 million people.

 

      Minister Bond and Tony Gugliotta, senior vice president of marketing and business development for the Vancouver Airport Authority were asked to join Minister Stockwell Day to meet with China Southern Airlines (CSA). CSA signed an agreement with YVR in 2007 to begin operating direct flights from Guangzhou to Vancouver. However, the economic downturn of 2009 delayed those plans. Tuesday’s meeting has led to renewed optimism that CSA will begin air service between Guangzhou and YVR in 2011.  

 

“The Province has been working very hard with China Southern Airlines for a number of years to begin daily service from Guangzhou to Vancouver,” said Gugliotta. “The addition of a daily flight by China Southern would have a significant impact on our economy, creating about 300 jobs at YVR.”

 

            The Pacific Gateway Alliance is a unique collaboration of government and industry partners who are investing $22 billion in the integrated port, rail, road and airport systems that make up the province’s supply chain. These major public-private investments will increase capacity, eliminate congestion, and streamline operations.

 

Alliance partners include the provincial and federal governments, Port Metro Vancouver, Port of Prince Rupert, CN, Canadian Pacific, Vancouver Airport Authority and BNSF.

 

For more information, news releases, audio clips and photos from the Asia trade mission and the Pacific Gateway, visit: www.th.gov.bc.ca/PacificGateway-Asia2010.

 

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Contact:

Jeff Knight Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707

 

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