World Trade Centers (WTCs) in the Asia Pacific (APAC) Region Celebrate WTCA Day 2021
While many countries throughout the Asia Pacific (APAC) region continue to battle COVID-19, the region’s World Trade Centers (WTCs), along with their business communities, joined WTC colleagues around the world to celebrate WTCA Day 2021 in June. The United Nations-designated date (June 12) recognizes the WTCA and its network of WTCs for encouraging and facilitating trade, promoting economic development, and fostering peace by bringing more than 320 cities from nearly 100 countries together — which has been even more important and relevant today in the era of social distancing. To commemorate the celebration, the WTCA Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) and APAC Trade Services Member Advisory Council (MAC) hosted the “2021 WTCA Day Celebration Special: Post-Pandemic Trend of WTC Business (APAC Perspective)” webinar on June 10, drawing participation from WTCs and business communities across the region.
The event examined the development and trends of the exhibition & conference, trade services and commercial real estate industries; those three main sectors of the WTC business; and a case study on how digitalization has transformed the WTC business model and service during the pandemic. The conversations aimed to prepare the regional WTCs and their business communities for the ongoing changes so they can be well-positioned to thrive and succeed in the post-pandemic era. Featured speakers included Mr. Anbu Varathan, 2020-2021 President of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry; Mr. Allan Roddy, Chief Research Officer of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) APAC; Dr. Samantak Das, Executive Director and Chief Economist, Head - Research and REIS of JLL India & Sri Lanka; Mr. Simon Wang, Executive Vice President of WTC Taipei; and Ms. Pamela D. Pascual, President & CEO of WTC Metro Manila. Mr. Robin van Puyenbroeck, WTCA Executive Director-Business Development delivered opening remarks while Dr. Bose K. Nair, Chairman, APAC Trade Service MAC, concluded the event.
The celebration also offered a special moment for regional WTCA Members to recollect and share their inspirational journeys with the Association.
“More than 50 years have passed since Mr. Guy Tozzoli founded the WTCA in 1969. During the span of half a century, the WTCA — as a global trade and investment ecosystem — has made significant contributions in connecting global trade, exchanging resources, sharing results and promoting the prosperity of the world economy. With the support of the WTCA, its APRO and global WTCs, WTC Kunming has kept learning, promoting and leveraging best practices [from the global network], offered quality services to our business members and local community, served as a bridge between local [business community] and international [WTCA network], and, as a result, has made great achievements,” said Ms. Lai Kai Chau, Chairwoman of WTC Kunming during her congratulatory address at the WTCA Day 2021 celebration.
To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.