Rawl: Ports could make SC an economic leader

State business leaders gathered at the Isle of Palms in Charleston throughout the week for the annual chamber summit. One of the hot topics of the week discussed at the summit– the state’s ports.

We want to make sure that that stays on the forefront so we can handle those post-panamax ships coming in. We want to be the first port of call on the east coast for those ships, and I think if we can get that right, we have a real nice chance of being the economic gateway to the Southeast right here in South Carolina.

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce President Otis Rawl told WCIV in Charleston making sure the port has adequate funding for state infrastructure and dredging at the port is key of the economic future of the state. Leaders also discussed the state’s budget, high unemployment, and health care. The annual summit represents a growing industry of more than 18,000 businesses with more than one million employees.