On September 20, 2018, World Trade Centre Toronto (WTC-T) celebrated its first anniversary. Created as the trade services arm of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, WTC-T has cultivated a national network of more than 60 partners to create opportunities for Canadian businesses—nearly 1,000 across its suite of offerings over the past year—to seize the growth opportunity in global trade.

“Establishing World Trade Centre Toronto as a one-stop shop, bringing together all the relevant export programs and services in the Toronto region, was one of our strategic steps toward realizing the Board’s 2020 vision to make Toronto one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world,” said Jan De Silva, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade. “In our first year of operation, we’ve helped hundreds of SMEs overcome the most common export challenges and explore new international opportunities for growth.”

WORLD TRADE CENTRE TORONTO - 1st YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

“Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy—they create jobs, drive innovation and support communities across the country. To help our small businesses compete in the 21st century it's vital that they scale up and take on new markets,” said the Honourable Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion. “Supporting the efforts of partners like World Trade Centre Toronto is one way we are working to help Canadian businesses grow globally.”

“Expanding Toronto’s international trade to boost growth and job creation is vital to our economy,” said Leigh Smout, Executive Director of WTC-T. “That’s why we believe that World Trade Centre Toronto is an important initiative. It has laid the foundation for a cohesive, strategic approach to trade for Toronto region businesses.”