Port directors from across California marked California Ports Day on Wednesday, 19 February 2020, by meeting with state policymakers, legislators, and administration officials to highlight the economic importance of the state’s 11 ports and issue a call to action to keep them competitive in a challenging environment.
California ports are a critical link in the US and international supply chain, and are tied to more than 5 million jobs nationwide, generating an estimated US$700 billion in annual revenue.
When asked about the purpose of this year’s Ports Day, new CAPA State Director Martha Miller explained, “Today is about raising awareness of the economic and environmental leadership ports bring to our state. The goal is to get legislators and our fellow Californians thinking about where their food, clothing, automobiles, smartphones, and maritime services come from. The more we trade, the more we need to invest in strong and efficient ports in our state.”
The California Assembly Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, chaired by Assembly member Patrick O’Donnell, heard multiple stakeholders from throughout the supply chain address the issue of port competitiveness. It marked the start of a more proactive dialogue with state leaders to explain California ports’ role in job creation, their unmatched leadership in environmental stewardship and the urgent need for creating a formal partnership with the state to ensure the continued operational competitiveness of the California port system.
