MANITOBA’S new inland port has its first-ever board of directors for CentrePort Canada Inc., Premier Gary Doer said Monday.

The announcement means the island port is officially open for business.

The board members are Kerry Hawkins, Art Mauro, Maureen Prendiville, David Fung, Chris Lorenc, Gord Peters, Joan Hardy, Don Streuber, Bob Silver, Tom Payne, Barry Rempel, Robert Ziegler, Eugene Kostyra and Ryan Craig.

The board will eventually have up to 15 members with expertise in rail, air and truck transportation, international business, labour, infrastructure and construction, law and financial management and marketing.

The Doer government recently tabled legislation creating CentrePort Canada Inc., a private-sector-led corporation that will promote development of the city’s inland port.

The act sets aside 20,000 acres of land around Richardson International Airport for the inland port and related businesses, industries and warehouses.