NANAIMO – On April 5th seaports of the Americas again celebrated Western Hemisphere Ports Dayan opportunity to highlight the industry’s role in job creation and economic prosperity. Ports are a vital part of the transportation infrastructure within the Western Hemisphere connecting farmers, manufacturers, workers and consumers to the global marketplace.
The Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) and the Association of American Authorities (AAPA) are united in a common goal of creating prosperity throughout the Hemisphere – ACPA and the AAPA are proud to join hundreds of ports in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, to highlight and celebrate the value of ports.
Here, in the Nanaimo Port we would like to use this opportunity to remind our community and its leaders about the important role we play on Vancouver Island as a vital link to the global economy.
The importance of ports is well documented. According to IHS Markit’s World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2016 totaled 3.49 billion metric tons in volume and US$3.01 trillion in value.
Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.71 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$941 billion or CDN$1.203 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.79 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.07 trillion or CDN$2.65 trillion.
However, the economic worth of all cargo in terms of jobs and business activity is much greater than the international seatrade. According to Martin Associates of Lancaster, Pa., in the U.S. alone, port activity generates over 23 million jobs and accounts for over one quarter of the nation’s economy.
Ports also play a critical role in providing goods that impact our everyday lives. Millions of tonnes of food, clothing, medicine, fuel and building materials, as well as consumer electronics and toys, move through Western Hemisphere seaports every day.
The volume of cargo shipped by water is expected to dramatically increase over the next 20 years, as will the number of passengers traveling through our seaports. To meet these demands, we are committed to keeping our ports navigable, secure and sustainable.
We are proud to join hundreds of Western Hemisphere seaports in the celebration of Ports Day. In support of workers, farmers, employers, manufacturers and consumers everywhere, we are excited to meet the growing demands of the future.
For more information about Western Hemisphere Ports Day, visit www.aapa-ports.org.
For more information about ACPA visit www.acpa-ports.net