Oct. 04--MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah has formed a partnership with an airport in China in hopes of establishing a trade route between both airports.
The announcement about the partnership between MidAmerica and Ningbo Lishe International Airport, located in the Zhiezhang Province of China, was made public Wednesday at The International Air Cargo Association 26th Air Cargo Forum in Atlanta. The agreement between the two airports has been in effect since January.
The agreement highlights four specific areas for both airports to work on, which are as follows: assist to organize freight originating from each airport to assist carriers; assist air carriers to start new air service; assist all trade route users with government approvals and support; and coordinate joint discussions and joint marketing to users of the trade route.
"Our partnership with the Ningbo Municipality and Ningbo Lishe International Airport has been an example of excellent second tier airport cooperation to support their international aims," said St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said. "We look forward to having goods and services passing on the Ningbo-MidAmerica-Latin America trade route in both directions. MidAmerica and Ningbo Lishe Airports are well equipped to handle high value dry goods and perishables in a safe, secure, efficient and economical way."
In June, a key operational component of this MidAmerica-Ningbo joint effort began as North Bay Produce Inc. opened its $5.7 million, 36,448-square-foot refrigerated, perishable warehouse at MidAmerica. For North Bay, an international fresh produce marketing and distribution cooperative, headquartered in Traverse City, Mich., the company's expansion to MidAmerica Airport is a key step in its plans to open the Asian trade lane that is integral to the company's future growth.
North Bay was one of several U.S. exporting companies that traveled with Kern on a January trade mission to Ningbo. Kern and Ningbo's Vice Mayor, along with over 100 Ningbo area stakeholder businesses, held meetings and discussions on linking both communities to world trade via air cargo.
North Bay produce will be one of the first benefactors from the new trade route and plans to start using air for logistics solutions for its import and export shipments from Central and South America before the end of 2012. The company is in discussions with several airlines for this service, while Ningbo Airport is in simultaneous discussions with Chinese air carriers for the service from Ningbo to MidAmerica.
MidAmerica has held several follow-up trade missions to Ningbo to facilitate discussions between U.S. exporters and Chinese buyers. Those companies have mainly been in the perishable family like fresh meats, fish, fruits, vegetables and chilled processed commodities. Chinese consumers are demonstrating eager desire for those products and the Ningbo area will benefit from these U.S. exports.
Ningbo Lishe Airport's aim to increase its air cargo volumes is boosted by the partnership with MidAmerica. "As a close partner of BLV (the airport code for MidAmerica), Ningbo International Airport and Logistics Administration is pleased to work as dynamic partners in both China and the states. Our plan is progressing very well," said Chen Yi, spokesman for Ningbo International Airport.
Ningbo has been coordinating the air freight activity outbound from China to both the Midwestern United States and to Central and South America. MidAmerica has been coordinating the air freight activity in the other direction. Both airports jointly present to shippers, forwarders and airlines for support of the air trade route.
Ningbo has committed to building a new 50,000 square meter air cargo terminal as part of a $1.3 billion airport improvement program.
Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - Belleville News-Democrat
