"This is an exciting day for the Port of Camden and for South Jersey in general. The increased importing of South American fruit will help consumers throughout the nation and  bolster the economies of Port communities such as ours here in Camden," said Rep. Andrews.  "I sincerely thank the Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman for his cooperation in this matter."

Previous to the rule change, which is scheduled to take effect immediately, a ban existed on imported fruit originating from Chile and Argentina , based on outdated concerns about food safety. However after rigorous testing, the USDA established that the imports would be safe.   In December of 1998, Congressman Andrews sent a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture requesting that the proposed rule to allow the importation of fresh fruit from Chile and Argentina be adopted.  Andrews worked with fellow members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to build support for this change in the rules and last week, preceding the President of Argentina's visit with President Clinton, the Secretary of Agriculture announced that the rule would be adopted. 

Through this change in the importation rules, it is projected that the amount of fruit that is shipped into the port of Camden will increase by 364,000 boxes per year.  Early estimates indicate that this will result in six million dollars in new revenue as well as a 10% increase in new jobs that will be created at the port.  

However, late last week Senator Barbara Boxer of California stated that she will decide whether to introduce legislation to reverse this rule, citing concerns for California fruit growers..  Andrews has pledged to work to ensure that the rule is adopted despite any legislative attempts to overturn it. "I am certain that more competition will be good for US consumers and growers," he stated.

"We are delighted to add Argentinian citrus to the repertoire of cargoes handled along the Delaware River.  We know the rule change will directly add to work opportunities for our labor and we foresee Argentina as being an increasingly important trading partner for us," said Robert Palaima, President of Delaware River Stevedores, Inc.  "We are fortunate to have representatives like Congressman Rob Andrews who recognize the crucial role the Port plays in the economic well being of the region."

As part of an entire day devoted to promoting job creation throughout South Jersey, Rep. Andrews also visited Hangsterfers Laboratories, a company located in Mantua, N.J. that manufactures industrial lubricants.  The company was attempting to become an approved vendor for the Boeing Corporation but was having trouble navigating the qualification process.  Rep. Andrews assisted them in contacting decision makers at Boeing and wrote letters on behalf Hangsterfers.  As a result, the company was given a chance to prove the merits of their product to Boeing and in May of this year, the company was awarded a contract to sell one of its lubricants to the Boeing Corporation.  The new business will allow Hangsterfers to hire six new employees.  The Company, run by Ann, Ed and Leslie Jones, is hopeful of even more job gains in the future.

Any discussion regarding job creation cannot take place without addressing the need for proactive solutions in finding skilled workers to fill new jobs as well as existing employment opportunities that are currently available to be filled throughout the seven South Jersey counties.  To address this need, Andrews met at Rutgers -Camden Campus along with area business leaders, members of job placement agencies and leaders of South Jersey's academic institutions to discuss efforts to ensure that information regarding workers looking for work and employers looking for employees is effectively shared throughout the full South Jersey regional economy.  The meeting is a follow-up to a US Dept of Labor study obtained by Andrews and fellow South Jersey Congressmen James Saxton and Frank LoBiondo last February. 

"We need to use the study to connect every South Jerseyan looking for a new job to every South Jersey business offering one," said Andrews 

Andrews finished his day by meeting with the employees of NDI, a company based in Thorofare, N.J. which currently employs a total of eighty professional and technical personnel who perform marine engineering, construction and management services to civil and governmental clients.   NDI Engineering through its participation as a sub-contractor on three Department of Defense Research and Development projects, the M-31 project for the United States Marines, an electromagnetic catapult and electromagnetic aircraft recovery system for the United States Navy that account for $1 million of a total $1.05 billion in annual defense spending that goes into the South Jersey economy.  Andrews, a member of the House Armed Services Committee fought for the inclusion of funding for these projects in the FY00 Defense spending bill.