Leaders Spell Out the Many Benefits of Philadelphia’s Port

The source of this article, incl. all its quotes, is "Fuente de Grandes Beneficios," El Sol Latino October 19-26, 2005.

 

The innumerable economic benefits of the Port of Philadelphia were recurring themes of the 4th Annual State of the Port Address and Luncheon held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Penn’s Landing on October 14, 2005. The multitude of shipments coming into and out of the port by ship, train, truck and air were described as an invaluable resource that continually needs to be protected and enhanced.

The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia organizes this yearly event to keep businesses in the region informed of the port’s economic status and areas that need improvement. The WTCGP is a non-profit organization that promotes economic development through international trade. Joanna Savvides, president of the WTCGP opened the occasion by noting that since its inception in 2002 its offices have helped generate $150 million in additional export sales for 500 companies in the Greater Philadelphia area, which includes southern New Jersey, increasing employment by 1900 jobs.

After an executive lunch, presentations were given by John J. Matheussen, Delaware River Port Authority's CEO; James T. McDermott, Philadelphia Regional Port Authority's Executive Director; Jay Jones, Deputy Executive Director, South Jersey Port Corporation; and Charles Isdell, Philadelphia International Airport's Director of Aviation.

John J. Matheussen, Delaware River Port Authority's CEO said, “This great enterprise area includes 125 miles of the Delaware River, with 28 terminals, located in 5 counties of the State of Pennsylvania and 8 counties in the State of New Jersey. Our motto is to maintain the region in movement and that is what we do each day throughout this great channel of transport.” He added that the “Delaware River handles near 70 million pounds of shipments annually, which produces thousands and thousands of jobs.” He also stated that “more than a million barrels of oil pass through the area each day and we are the second most active military port in the nation.”

Mr. Matheussen and the other speakers presented their extensive plans for expansion of the port's facilities, promising even greater benefits in the future.