One of the busiest commercial land border crossings in North America, strategically located on the Ontario–Michigan border, Sarnia–Lambton is a dynamic hub for national and international trade and a key contributor to Ontario’s economy. To support the local economy to grow and diversify in the wake of COVID-19, the Government of Canada is helping to bolster Sarnia’s position as a great place to do business and invest.
Today, Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages), announced Sarnia–Lambton’s official designation as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Point—a single point of access to resources and information relating to programs that relieve duties, tariffs and taxes for businesses engaged in importing and exporting.
The FTZ designation will allow Sarnia–Lambton to market themselves as a hub for international trade and to provide coordinated access to government FTZ programs helping to attract more business and foreign direct investment (FDI) to the area.
Home to a skilled workforce rich in industries such as chemical refinement and agriculture, multiple transportation modes and strong infrastructure, the FTZ point will help bolster trade and export opportunities for businesses, in turn supporting them to expand and create new jobs. Business owners from underrepresented groups such as women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities and persons with disabilities will also be encouraged to participate in available FTZ programs.
Today’s announcement reinforces the Government of Canada’s commitment to strengthening the economy by helping local businesses access the tools they need to succeed and creating new opportunities for trade.
For more information about the Sarnia-Lambton Foreign Trade Zone point, please visit www.sarnialambtonftz.ca.
Quick Facts
- The FTZ Point designation improves access to existing programs and promotes Canada’s advantage. It allows the region to coordinate programs that benefit businesses, such as the Duty Deferral Program, the Duties Relief Program, the Drawback Program, the Customs Bonded Warehouse Program and the Export Distribution Centre Program.
- Working alongside the Sarnia–Lambton Chamber of Commerce, FedDev Ontario played a key role in bringing together stakeholders in the region to engage, assess and ultimately achieve this designation.
- Ontario is home to five FTZ points, with a total of 16 located across Canada.
- Since November 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested over $42 million in 24 projects in the Lambton census division, including $27 million in Bioindustrial Innovation Canada to establish the Centre for Commercialization of Sustainable Chemistry Innovation (COMM SCI) and then expand its services to clean tech companies in Eastern Ontario through the Ontario Bioindustrial Innovation Network (OBIN).
Associated Links
FedDev Ontario
Sarnia-Lambton FTZ
Foreign Trade Zone
City of Sarnia
Sarnia–Lambton Chamber of Commerce