New London cargo terminal open for business

LONDON, Ont. – Officials at London International Airport say the newly opened cargo terminal will turn their western Ontario city into a major transportation hub.

Peter White, president of the London Economic Development Corp., said the project will ease border concerns and create 70 jobs immediately. Each plane that lands will add as much as 15 percent spinoff employment in London, he said.

That aspiration was repeated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he officially opened the facility late last week.

"This new cargo terminal will help the city become a leading transportation hub, and will be critical to London’s future as a major North American and international gateway,” he said. “This project is a perfect example of how a well-timed investment can create construction jobs in the short-term while providing lasting infrastructure for longer-term prosperity and growth."

He said the increased emphasis on freight movements at the airport will create new jobs.

Indeed, the Foreign Trade Cargo Complex is expected to bring more than 150 permanent jobs for London in freight handling, packing, logistics, customs activities and trucking.

The new cargo terminal is also expected to help regional businesses in London and the area by providing greater opportunity to access and compete in international markets. The project was built on time and under budget.

The construction of the Foreign Trade Cargo Complex was funded, in part, by FedDev Ontario, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.