New Orleans World Trade Center - Louisiana’s International Trade Headquarters
Louisiana’s ties to the Mississippi River make it a center of international trade. The state contains the world’s busiest port complex, with 6000 vessels passing through the port of New Orleans annually. Companies have many logistics choices, including six class one railroads, an integrated interstate grid, and a large deepwater port system.
Louisiana Port System
Louisiana is home to more than 32 ports, which include deep draft, inland, coastal, and developing. These ports have a significant economic impact on the state, providing jobs and generating revenue.
New Orleans’ location at the mouth of the Mississippi River makes it a center of international trade. The lower Mississippi River, situated in Louisiana, is the world’s busiest port complex. 6000 vessels pass through the port of New Orleans annually. The Port of New Orleans is responsible for eight billion dollars of earnings every year. It is a top port for transportation of imported steel and the number one port in the country for the movement of imported steel – whose countries of origin include Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Airports
The Louis Armstrong International Airport serves 8.2 million passengers annually. It is a major gateway to Latin America, with flights to Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. It was also one of six US cities granted permission to offer charter flights to Cuba.
Louisiana is home to 71 airports, including 7 primary and commercial service and 3 military. Its commercial service airports are located in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, and Shreveport.
Education and Quality of Life
- Graduates of the Louisiana education system are prepared for the workforce. The Louisiana education system is improving annually and gaining national recognition.
- Louisiana is home to hundreds of festivals and welcomes 24.3 million visitors annually.
- Louisiana’s cities are rapidly growing – improving quality of life and financial viability. Fast Company’s list of “12 Fast Cities of 2009” highlighted New Orleans for its new generation of social entrepreneurs. The list included cities with “exemplary initiatives [that] are improving neighborhoods, transforming lives and helping build better, faster cities for the future.”