Go Global KC 2022

World Trade Center - Kansas City recently held its annual Go Global KC event on September 28th. Focused on promoting Kansas City's international trade economy, this year's theme was ally-shoring and its impact on international trade. We were extremely fortunate to welcome two keynote speakers, Elaine Dezenski and John Austin. Elaine serves as Senior Director & Head of the Center of Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense and Democracies (FDD). She is a globally recognized expert and thought leader on geopolitical risk, supply chain security, anti-corruption, and national security. John Austin recently completed 16 years of elected service on the Michigan State Board of Education. He also directs the Michigan Economic Center and serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Brookings Institution, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Unjohn Institute. Dezenski and Austin discussed the importance of ally-shoring, especially when it doesn't make sense to keep production at home. They believe we need to use ally-shoring to rebuild our supply chains and make them more competitive. Ally-shoring supplies more goods compared to supply from China or Russia. It boosts our economy and strengthens the health of both our democracies. Ally-shoring isn't only about making more at home but making more and partnering with allies we trust. Finally, we were excited to announce the De Soto Economic Development Council as the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Economic Development Agency award, the Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone as the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Service Provider award, and KenZen as the recipient of the 2022 Weida International Small Business of the Year award.