Potential for growth in Kitsap jobs, economy | In Our Opinion

Published 9:46 am Friday, May 8, 2015

The Port of Bremerton’s exploration of export and import opportunities with Taiwan presents some very exciting, and very real, opportunities for jobs creation and economic growth in Kitsap County.

The elements are in place: the Puget Sound Industrial Center (formerly known as South Kitsap Industrial Area), which is located in a designated free-trade zone; development-ready industrial land owned by the Port of Bremerton; a national airport currently used for shipping freight; a railway to the deep-water port at Grays Harbor; and Asian interest in products made and grown in Washington.

Bremerton port commissioners hosted a delegation of nine officials from Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, for a discussion of economic development opportunities April 30 at Bremerton National Airport. The meeting was coordinated by Bremerton Port Commissioner Roger Zabinski. Among those in the delegation: Chin “Andy” Hsing, director-general of Taipei’s Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.

Taiwanese officials see Kitsap as a less costly and less congested alternative to Seattle and Tacoma.

According to the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, major industries in Kitsap County include agriculture, forestry and fishing; communications; construction; finance, insurance and real estate; manufacturing; retail and wholesale trade; and military and defense-related support services and material.

Expanded exporting close to home would open up new markets for Kitsap farm products, wood products, chemicals, commercial and industrial machinery, electronics, furniture, and textiles.

Bremerton could also become a hub for exporting other Washington products.

Equally significant, Bremerton and Kitsap could become a leader in “green” export by establishing rules that govern what will and will not be transported here by rail. In establishing Bremerton as an import/export hub, we do not abrogate our responsibility to protect our ecosystem. That’s an important message.

We applaud Commissioner Zabinski for his leadership in initiating this meeting. We hope the Port of Bremerton and Taiwanese officials continue to pursue a course that will, at the least, result in another friendship in the Pacific Rim, and will create new opportunities for jobs creation and economic growth in Kitsap County.

— Readers: What are your views on this issue? Write rwalker@soundpublishing.com.