UPS Opens Hub in Canada

UPS has announced the official opening of its distribution center at the Calgary International Airport (YYC), a hub to provide businesses with direct access to the US and international markets.

The facility, built at a cost of US$30 million, will be central to the continued growth of Alberta's economy, allowing local businesses to tap into global growth markets such as China, India and Mexico.

"Despite the recent recession, Calgary's economy still stands as a growth engine for Canada with many businesses in the area looking to take advantage of emerging markets overseas," said Mike Tierney, president of UPS Canada.

Economists predict China will become the biggest economy in the world by 2050, while the rise of the middle class in India serves as a boon to entrepreneurs in Canada looking to capitalize on consumer demand for western goods. In 2008, India's purchasing power parity stood at US $2.3 trillion, while China's stood at US $8 trillion.

The 150,000-square-foot distribution facility has been under construction since June of 2008 and will allow UPS to double its package processing capability. The hub houses 157 trucks for ground transportation to surrounding communities in addition to serving as a staging point for aircraft.

The facility will also serve to boost the local economy by employing more than 400 Calgarians and contributing to the transportation sector - one of the few sectors to see growth during the 2009 recession.

UPS, www.ups.com