Mayor and First Nations leaders support “transformative opportunity” at Port of Sydney
December 13, 2016
CBRM RELEASE – For immediate release
Sydney, Nova Scotia — MONTREAL, QUEBEC – The head office of Montreal’s Canderel was the setting for a historic meeting with key partners in Port of Sydney’s Novaporte and Novazone project.
Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP) met with Membertou Chief Terry Paul, Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny, Ports America, Port of Sydney and Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) in Montreal on December 12, 2016, to discuss future development of Novazone Logistics Park, located adjacent to Novaporte’s deep water container terminal. Joining the meeting is SHIP’s International Advisor, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, 20th Prime Minister of Canada.
PICTURED L-R: Chief Terry Paul, Peter Ford (Chief Strategy Officer at Ports America), Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien, Chief Leroy Denny, Albert Barbusci of SHIP, Daniel Peritz (Senior Vice-President of Canderel).
“We are seeing the positive progress of a Cape Breton-led development effort through the municipality and First Nations partners, the development team in Montreal and our global associates,” said Mayor Cecil Clarke of Cape Breton Regional Municipality. “With our new terminal operators, Ports America, the Port of Sydney is in a strong position to realize this transformative opportunity.”
Two hundred and fifty acres of the 1,200 acre development is owned by First Nations partners. This land will be among the first sites developed in Novazone. The focus of Novazone, which operates within Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s Foreign Trade Zone, is to manage both imports and exports including those with value-added components.
The Novazone team, led by First Nations partners and SHIP, discussed aggressive strategies for developing Novazone’s Logistic Park. The Novaporte team have been in discussions with Export Development Canada and Nova Scotia Business Inc. on export opportunities.
“As the Port of Sydney’s development partner, we are committed to bringing together all the partnerships needed to build and operate the most modern, cost-efficient port on the continent,” said Albert Barbusci of Sydney Harbour Investment Partners.
A stakeholders information session on the Ports America announcement will be held at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavillion on Wednesday, December 14 at 10:30 am.
Chief Terry Paul, Membertou:
“We are confident that Ports America has the capability and expertise to bring valuable business to our Port. Our communities are eager to be a part of the Port’s evolving business development strategy, and to ensure that we continue to work together to drive even more opportunities for our region.”
Chief Leroy Denny, Eskasoni:
“Eskasoni is excited with Ports America coming on board to work with our team to further the development of the Port of Sydney. Realization of this project, particularly the benefits it will mean for our communities and our members including jobs and the economic spin offs created, will boost our workforce as we continue to work collectively with all the stakeholders.”