From San Antonio Free Trade Alliance e-newsletter
Port San Antonio, Lazaro Cardenas and Free Trade Alliance Conduct Second Corridor Marketing Visit to Southern China
On October 30th, Port San Antonio, the Port of Lazaro Cardenas (Mexico) and Free Trade Alliance San Antonio embarked on their second promotional visit to China this year. The primary objective of the trip was to promote the new multimodal logistics corridor developed by Port San Antonio that runs between the Mexican Port of Lazaro Cardenas and San Antonio.
Opened in early 2006, the new corridor offers Chinese exports a competitive alternative for entering the U.S. market. Since its inception, the new corridor has consistently saved shippers 3-5 days on delivery times and an average of $100 on shipping costs for Chinese containerized goods transiting into the Texas market. New changes in steamship service may further reduce the transit time by another 30 hours.
The ports and Alliance are once again targeting the Southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong for their promotion efforts. In Shenzhen, the partners will conduct a seminar in conjunction with the Chinese International Logistics and Supply Chain Management Fair in coordination with the Shenzhen Logistics Association and American Chamber of Commerce. In Guangzhou, they will team up for a seminar with the Guangdong Province Investment Promotion Bureau, Guangdong Cargo Forwarders Association and Guangdong Guangxin Trade Group. In Hong Kong, the team will conduct a promotional seminar with the Hong Kong Logistics Association.
In all, the group is expecting to present to 300-400 Chinese logistics and exporting companies from around the Pearl River Delta region which generates nearly 40% of all US-China trade. The ports and Alliance conducted a similar trip in April of 2006 to the same three cities presenting the new corridor to over 350 firms.
Mr. Bruce Miller, CEO of the Port Authority of San Antonio and Mr. Armando Palos Director General of the Port of Lazaro Cardenas led the delegation made up of other key representatives of the ports, Free Trade Alliance and other critical partners to the corridor project. The team once again coordinated the visit through San Antonio’s new representative office in China that has been operating since February of 2006.
Inland Ports Across North America Conference attracts international record attendance
On October 11-12, 2006, North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition and Free Trade Alliance hosted the 2nd Annual Inland Ports Across North America Conference at the Historic Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
Only in it’s second year, the conference attracted over 150 people in representing 19 inland port projects, 5 departments of transportation, 18 trade and government organizations, 6 rail companies, 10 shippers and logistics providers from all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Several attending organizations are worth mentioning including, Guanajuato Puerto Interior, Port of Lazaro Cardenas, COMCE Noreste, Iowa Department of Transportation, Alliance Texas, Destination Winnipeg and many more.
As the conference focus was on the rail industry, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Union Pacific, and the Rail Association of Canada provided conference attendees with an understanding of the rail capacity and infrastructure constraints and new options. In addition, conference attendees learned the latest on security, technology, advocacy and other issues.
“San Antonio Flight School to Train Chinese Pilots in San Antonio”
Wright Flyers Aviation, Inc. has received formal certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to train Chinese pilots at their facilities. In September, representatives from the CAAC visited San Antonio to conduct a two-day site inspection of Wright Flyers Academy, owned and operated by Mr. Rand Goldstein.
Wright Flyers’ first contract from one of China’s most respected private airlines will bring 50 Chinese students annually to San Antonio for flight training. “CAAC certification places Wright Flyers and San Antonio among a handful of sites in the U.S. where Chinese pilots can begin their airline pilot careers.” Goldstein added that thanks to the support received from Bexar County, City of San Antonio, Free Trade Alliance San Antonio and Port San Antonio during the CAAC delegation’s recent visit from Beijing, Wright Flyers plans to increase its staff of aviation professionals by 30%, with more job growth to follow as additional training agreements are signed.
Wright Flyers Aviation, Inc. is San Antonio’s premier flight school and Global Aviation Degree Center. Wright Flyers, established in 1982, is San Antonio’s only Cessna Pilot Center and has trained thousands of pilots worldwide.