Calgary region declared a foreign trade zone

The Calgary region has been designated a foreign trade zone — one of only three in the country — under a federal program designed to provide businesses faster and more efficient access to markets in Western Canada.

Calgary Economic Development chairman Steve Allan said the designation, announced Tuesday, recognizes the region’s growth as a distribution hub.

“We are already Western Canada’s most significant distribution and transportation hub and this helps our competitiveness with other distribution centres across the country,” said Allan. “It puts us on an equal playing field with other centres that call themselves foreign trade zones or distribution hubs.

The foreign trade zone allows for a ‘ single- window’ point of access for all information on relevant government policies for businesses wanting to establish their enterprises in those areas.

A foreign trade zone was also announced for the Edmonton International Airport. Canada’s first was CentrePort Canada in Winnipeg, established in October 2009.

Western Economic Diversification Canada said the Calgary Region Inland Port and Port Alberta, which serves the Edmonton region, will assist in leveraging the province’s role as a hub for international transportation, manufacturing, and distribution.

Tom Dixon, manager of real estate, transportation and logistics for Calgary Economic Development, said details of the singlepoint of access are still being developed.

“All levels of government will participate and be able to provide background on what’s involved in creating a facility under the foreign trade zone,” explained Dixon.

“So you come to one point and all of the information relevant to creating a new facility will be made ( available) to you.

“It will be a combination of website access and resources, telephone system and all economic development officers who are working in transportation and logistics throughout the region will be able to refer clients to that single- point of information.”