“Today, I toured
the Port of
New
Orleans to survey
Hurricane Katrina’s impact. While
there is still work to be done, I am encouraged by the rapid recovery of the
Port.
“They’ve been
open just a few days, and yet, there is a feeling of forward movement and
progress. And they are on track to
be at 85 percent of capacity in a few months. The port in south
Louisiana is already
operating at 85 percent capacity.
That’s both impressive and important.
“Good jobs and
economic growth in the region has been and will be generated by the billions in
trade flowing through the Port of
New
Orleans. And many of our nation’s farmers and
manufacturers rely on Louisiana ports as a
central path for shipping goods to neighboring countries and trading partners
across the globe.
“The wrath of
Katrina may have temporarily disrupted the ebb and flow of trade, but the
Port of
New
Orleans is
resilient.
“OPEN FOR
BUSINESS” is their message, and I will share it proudly with my fellow trade
ministers around the world.”
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