Halifax: The Nova Scotia city of Halifax on Canada’s east coast is pushing ahead with significant infrastructure projects as it looks to snare business from further and further afield. Canada as a whole is looking to expand trade beyond United States, comments Karen Oldfield, the president and ceo of the Halifax Port Authority.
“In order to achieve that,” she says, “we now have to look at different aspects of the supply chain to ensure it is competitive at the international level. We believe Canada must continue to expand trade into emerging markets such as China, southeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent and reinforce that with continued visibility on the part of the federal government.”
Halifax port has recently completed a $35m pier extension at its South End Container Terminal. Elsewhere the $73m Richmond Multipurpose Terminal project is underway and on schedule. The project will upgrade and expand this facility to enable it to handle breakbulk and project cargo. The terminal will feature a large lay down area and shed space to allow for growth in this area.
As it looks to expand business overseas last autumn executives from railway CN and the Halifax Port Authority undertook a joint export/import-driven trade mission in Asia working on supply chain solutions. “It was a very successful venture and we are seeing the fruits of that now,” says Oldfield.
All east coast ports in North America are enjoying the bonanza of container carriers heading through the Suez Canal from Asia to North America as a way to soak up additional capacity. Similarly, all these ports are preparing for changing trading patterns once the Panama Canal’s expansion is done. Halifax appears prepared. [16/07/13]
