A Taiwanese trade delegation invited by Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Rowswell arrived in the city in mid-August for exploratory talks on the transpolar air freight initiative.
During their two-day visit, the group, led by Tso-Chen Chen, Taipei's top economic and cultural director, visited Algoma Steel, the Great Lakes Forestry Centre and G-P Flakeboard.
The city is hoping to secure some overseas business contacts before applying for government airport capital improvement funding.
A preliminary market analysis prepared by the city's logistics consultants indicates growing air freight potential between North America and the Asian-Pacific countries, including an air cargo volume out of Taiwan estimated at $49.5 billion for 2002.
To make the Sault transpolar initiative work, the airport needs a minimum 2,000-foot runway extension with about $20 million to $40 million in infrastructural upgrades.
