MONTREAL: Quebec’s minister of Maritime Affairs, Jean D’Amour, has announced a major investment in industrial port areas throughout Canada’s largest province.
To help spur economic growth across 16 coastal zones in Quebec, the province plans to invest $300 million in road and rail infrastructure and port services. The investment is part of the province’s overall maritime strategy, designed to create jobs and grow businesses along Quebec’s significant coastal areas—particularly the St. Lawrence River.
D’Amour said companies located close to ports experience a significant competitive advantage because of their ability to move their products quickly throughout the North American market and internationally. The Quebec government is currently reviewing which projects to direct funds and plans to make numerous individual investment by June of this year.
Along with boosting businesses along shipping channels, the funds will also support Quebec’s ports. The Port of Montreal, the largest container port in Quebec, as well as Eastern Canada, has vigorously endorsed the investment.
“We believe in the merits of the concept of industrial port areas, and we are very pleased with these major investments. Montreal is a natural, ideally suited site to implement such a concept,” Sylvie Vachon, president and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, said. Like the Port of Montreal, ports are real engines for attracting business and there will definitely be no shortage of interest in developing business in this stimulating context.”
