New York, NY (October 30, 2023) - The World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®), an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries, fueled its ambitious “Road to 500” initiative at its 2023 WTCA Member Forum, held October 15-17 in New York City. With the theme of “Drivers of Progress,” this year’s Member Forum focused on the unique ways WTC businesses drive progress within their local and global communities, and the Association’s plans to revitalize for the future and expand its current global Membership base to 500 WTCA Members over the next decade. Through the “Road to 500” initiative, the WTCA aims to leverage its global network to illuminate the organization’s value proposition, captivate global audiences and amplify its presence around the world, propelling the organization to the future. The three-day business meeting attracted more than 120 WTC businesses representing 37 countries around the world who gathered in-person and virtually to participate, a testament to the Association’s commitment to innovation and revitalization.

Highlights from this year’s Member Forum included the launch of the WTCA Francophone initiative, binding French-speaking WTCA Members worldwide; the relaunch of the Biennial WTCA Champions Awards; riveting panel discussions on the future of global trade and the transformative potential of AI; best practices on how WTCA Members can expand their businesses and how they can play an active role within the Association via the Member Advisory Councils and Regional Advisory Councils; and charted priorities for the WTCA’s North American region.

Some of the WTCA’s newest Members — WTC Austin, WTC Haikou, WTC Mazatlán, WTC Sinop and WTC Uberlândia — unveiled their new projects that aim to boost economic development within their regions through the power of the WTCA’s global network. Additionally, showcasing this year’s theme of “Drivers of Progress,” WTC Shenyang, WTC Saskatoon and WTC Toronto also presented, a few takeaways from each are listed below:

• WTC Shenyang's projects, including its City Showcase program, aims to promote cultural exchange and showcases the unique services and products of its participating cities around the world. By emphasizing the strengths and characteristics of these cities, it fuels economic growth and underscores their pivotal roles as a “Driver of Progress” in their regions.
• A true “Driver of Progress,” WTC Saskatoon hosts more than 300 events annually, including the prestigious Western Canada Crop Production Show. With plans to expand in 2024, boasting 960 indoor trade spaces and more than 330 exhibitors from both Canada and the United States, WTC Saskatoon solidifies its role in advancing knowledge and opportunities globally.
• WTC Toronto positions itself as a "Driver of Progress" through data-driven strategies that adapt swiftly to the evolving needs of businesses. It excels at anticipating stakeholder objectives, using analytics to drive growth, particularly in key industries like manufacturing, cleantech and aerospace – making it the beacon for transformative change.

The Member Forum also marked the official countdown to the highly anticipated 54th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF), which will be hosted by WTC Bengaluru on March 3-6, 2024. With the theme of “Empowering Progress through Innovation & Collaboration,” next year’s event aims to showcase the economic potential in India, particularly Karnataka, which has been called the “Silicon Valley of India.”

“Under the banner of ‘Drivers of Progress,’ the 2023 WTCA Member Forum was an astounding showcase of ambition, innovation and the unwavering commitment to progress to shape the Association’s future,” said John E. Drew, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors. “This is evident in the way we bring together diverse cultures, all sharing a belief in global trade and prosperity. Together, we are charting an inspiring course and we look forward to reconnecting with our global network in Bengaluru to experience all the business opportunities that India has to offer.”

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org

Violet PR

Grace Sanford

Phone: +1 201 290 3543

Email: grace@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 91 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

Attendees at the 2023 WTCA Member Forum Held in NYC and virtually October 15-17, 2023. Photo Credit: April Renae Photography. 

New York, NY (October 3, 2023) — The World Trade Centers Association^® (WTCA^®), an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries, announced today that it will host its 2023 WTCA Member Forum from October 15-17 in New York City, with limited live streaming available. With the theme of “Drivers of Progress,” this year’s event will focus on the unique ways WTC businesses drive progress within their local communities and the Association’s plans to modernize and revitalize for the future by clearly identifying its brand narrative and expanding its current global Membership base to 500 WTCA Members within the next decade.

The three-day WTCA Member Forum is one of the Association’s flagship events. Attended by world-renowned experts and representatives from Member WTC businesses, the annual WTCA Member Forum provides countless opportunities for attendees to tap into the global WTCA network and reconnect with fellow WTCA Members. This year, the forum will unite the collective expertise of the WTCA community, and actively engage in shaping the organization’s future, with the goal to strengthen and modernize the WTCA brand.

“We are thrilled to host the 2023 WTCA Member Forum again in New York City,” said John E. Drew, Chair, Board of Directors of the WTCA. “This year’s program showcases our new branding strategy, a crucial element of our 2023-2025 WTCA Strategic Plan. Members can learn about our short- and long-term plans to establish a strong foundation for the WTCA brand, which includes a new cohesive narrative, corporate assets for Members and the business development team, a refreshed WTCA website and new forms of Member-to-Member communication. We will also introduce the newly-elected and diverse group of the WTCA’s Board of Directors, discuss our ‘Road to 500’ initiative, and offer networking, workshops and more to help attendees expand their businesses.”

In addition to the new branding strategy and other events, this year’s forum marks the launch of the Francophone Initiative, which invites WTCA Members from French-speaking business communities around the world to collaborate and expand the presence of French-speaking delegations from WTC Member companies. It will kick off the official countdown to the highly anticipated 54^th annual WTCA Global Business Forum, which will be hosted March 3-6, 2024 by WTC Bengaluru in Bengaluru, India.

Drawing upon this opportunity to shape the global trade and investment landscape for the future, Crystal Edn, WTCA Executive Director of Member Services, echoed the enthusiasm and ambitious goals set for the upcoming forum. “We are looking forward to great results from this year’s Member Forum,” she said. “We aim to carve out bold new directions for our initiatives and lay the groundwork for an even stronger Association. Thanks to all our attending members, together, we are poised for a year of unparalleled success and deep insights.”

This year’s event is open only to WTCA Members, including license holders and staff of WTC businesses. WTCA Members can register here.

For more information about the 2023 WTCA Member Forum and to view the agenda, please click here. Also, follow #WTCAEvents on social media.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org

Violet PR

Grace Sanford

Phone: +1 201 290 3543

Email: grace@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 91 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

New York, NY (May 11, 2023) - The World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®) — an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries —and World Trade Center (WTC) Accra have successfully concluded the 53^rd annual WTCA General Assembly (GA) in Accra, Ghana. The five-day event, which took place April 23-27, brought together leaders and members of the global network of World Trade Center locations and their business networks — consisting of leaders from business, government, academia, media and international organizations — to hear insights from chief dignitaries representing Ghana, Namibia and the United States, and key experts; engage in roundtables and conversations; and explore new opportunities for growth and development across Africa. Themed “Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence,” the event built on the WTCA’s ongoing commitment to Africa.

The business gathering in Accra featured notable keynote speakers, panel discussions, and a series of networking events that focused on Africa’s unique trade and investment opportunity. H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, emphasized how Ghana is at the forefront to promote Africa’s potential to attract foreign investment, the Global Legal Entity Identification for businesses in Ghana, and the need for Africa to invest in innovative technology to advance its competitiveness in the global market. H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat, spoke passionately about the concrete steps Africa has taken towards economic integration including through the establishment of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which ensures seamless trade between African countries using a digital payment system.

"With the outlook of demographic growth to double in the next 25 years, the opportunities are there in Africa. As the WTCA, we want to support this growth through our business network and positively affect wealth and prosperity to enhance peace and harmony on the Continent," said John E. Drew, Chair, Board of Directors of the WTCA. "With 15 World Trade Center licenses established across Africa — including a new location set to open in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — the WTCA is committed to promoting investment and trade opportunities throughout the Continent. There is a real desire for our network to do business there."

H.R.H. Togbe Afede XIV, Executive Chairman of WTC Accra, summarized with clarity the opportunities available throughout Africa stating that “we believe Africa can help solve some of the problems that the world is facing today, especially in food production and energy transition. With 20% of the world’s landmass and 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, we believe Africa is the answer to food security across the globe. We believe in the promise of Africa to move the world forward – the time to be in Africa is now.”

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) was a key event partner and sponsor represented by Emeka Uzomba, Senior Advisor, AfCFTA, Afreximbank, who discussed financing trade and strategic investments in Africa. In the Afreximbank sponsored "Deal Room," the Bank’s experts engaged with participants who conducted business meetings, and discussed transactions between African companies and global partners.

"We are thrilled to have partnered with the WTCA at this year’s GA to drive economic growth and development in Africa. Our collaboration will leverage the strengths of both organizations to support businesses in expanding operations and accessing new markets,” said Uzomba. “Together, we are committed to unlocking the full potential of African trade and investment, and creating opportunities for businesses to thrive.”

The WTCA continues to play a critical role in establishing interconnected business networks around the world, and now, through the efforts of this year’s GA, has launched its focus on supporting the growth of African economies. GA participants focused on forging business alliances with buyers, sellers and investors across multiple sectors in Africa, such as Agriculture; Agro-Tech, Food Processing; Manufacturing; Mining, Power and Energy; and Water, among others. These strategic collaborations promise to equip WTCA members and their business networks with avant-garde resources and know-how, thereby boosting growth and expansion endeavors in Africa.

“General Assembly attendees were able to appreciate, more than ever, the importance of what our Association does best — bringing people together from all over the world to understand the host country’s business environment and opportunities, and share our WTC businesses’ best practices with each other. Our Association allows us to discover business opportunities in various parts of the world and we can attest to Africa’s potential after attending this year’s GA in Accra. All these efforts and opportunities enhance the WTC brand’s awareness and value,” said Antony Georgakis, Head of Operations, WTC Cyprus.

“This event was a once in a lifetime opportunity — coming to Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, in Ghana, we need assistance to perfect packaging products that meet world standards and enter the world market, and also training so that what we do in Ghana can become internationally marketable. Ghana needs trade, not aid — we can do business with the world and we are waiting to work together,” said Diana Twum, a Ghanaian entrepreneur and GA B2B delegate.

The 2023 General Assembly concluded with a grand ceremonial announcement of next year’s host. The 54th annual WTCA GA is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru, India from March 3-6, 2024, and will be hosted by World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru.

MEDIA CONTACT:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Kasik

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: ckasik@wtca.org

Violet PR

David Margolis

Phone: +1 917 331 4855

Email: david@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 92 countries. As the owner of the "World Trade Center" and "WTC" trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

About World Trade Center (WTC) Accra

WTC Accra, currently located on the first floor of the magnificent World Trade Center building in Accra, is a doorway to a world of global trade opportunities for companies in Ghana and the West African sub-region, as well as a soft-landing pad for international commercial interests seeking to take advantage of exciting opportunities in Africa. We connect people, products and ideas from around the globe through our year-round calendar of international trade fairs, blockbuster consumer shows and prestigious international conferences, which are complemented by our innovative free zone and award-winning real estate developments. As the region’s largest purpose-built complex for events and exhibitions, we provide a platform for unparalleled business and networking opportunities. More details on WTC Accra can be found on their website, http://www.wtcaccra.com.

New York, NY (April 3, 2023) — The World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®) — an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries — and World Trade Center Accra will host the 53^rd annual WTCA General Assembly (GA) in Accra, Ghana from April 23-28. This will be the WTCA’s first in-person GA since 2019 and the first to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The WTCA GA is the association's premier annual event and will bring together WTCA members and their global business networks consisting of leaders from business, government, academia, media and international organizations, reflecting the WTCA's diverse global footprint.

This year, the GA will include engaging roundtables and conversations, including keynote remarks from H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, and special remarks from H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat on Monday, April 24. The full program agenda is available here.

“Macro trends in four key sectors – automotive; agriculture and agro-processing; pharmaceuticals; and transport and logistics – and across Africa’s growth potential as a whole reveal tremendous opportunities for business expansion as population, income and connectivity are on the rise. The AfCFTA will unlock these opportunities, but not without disruption and change in business and production dynamics, especially due to increased intra-African trade,” said H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat in the January 2023 World Economic Forum Insight Report AfCFTA: A New Era for Global Business and Investment in Africa . “The benefits to African countries and to business success under the free trade area arise from the private sector understanding, recognizing and acting on the initiative’s value.”

“This GA and the opportunities it creates for businesses to network and connect, will highlight the unique trade and investment potential presented by Africa as the world’s next economic frontier, especially in light of the new AfCFTA," said Edem Kofi Yevutsey, Executive Director of WTC Accra. "We have been working closely with the WTCA team in New York to bring the global WTCA network to Africa. We look forward to welcoming delegates worldwide to our vibrant country to take advantage of the growth opportunities across the continent."

With the theme of "Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence," the 2023 GA demonstrates the strength of the WTCA network and focuses on business connections on the African continent with buyers, sellers and investors in the various sectors, such as Agriculture; Agro-Tech, Food Processing; Manufacturing; Mining, Power and Energy; and Water, among others. The African continent represents a GDP of USD $12.7 trillion and its 1.4 billion people represent the fastest-growing population on the planet. It is also among the youngest, with 15.7 being the median age, and its young population is poised to make its mark economically and geopolitically.

“Africa has long been viewed as a strategic economic market for growth for countries around the world, and was, therefore, a key focus for the WTCA and its members. The time is right for this year’s GA to be held in Africa and our first in-person GA since the COVID-19 pandemic,” said John E. Drew, Chair, Board of Directors of the WTCA. “In my 30+ years of experience in organizing trade delegations with the WTCA, I trust that this year’s GA will be a great success bringing opportunities to Africa and strengthening the WTCA’s overall mission. The WTCA GA is about setting up critical infrastructures to promote global trade – creating connections and maximizing business growth and economies, and for this reason the event is open to both WTC members as well as non-members. Attendees will network with fellow professionals from around the world, exchange ideas, and explore potential business opportunities during the event's networking sessions.”

For more information about the 2023 WTCA General Assembly, please visit https://wtca.swoogo.com/2023wtcaga/2289118. Also, follow along on social media via #WTCAGeneralAssembly and #GA2023.

MEDIA CONTACT:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Kasik

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: ckasik@wtca.org

Violet PR

David Margolis

Phone: +1 917 331 4855

Email: david@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 92 countries. As the owner of the "World Trade Center" and "WTC" trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

About World Trade Center (WTC) Accra

WTC Accra, currently located on the first floor of the magnificent World Trade Center building in Accra, is a doorway to a world of global trade opportunities for companies in Ghana and the West African sub-region, as well as a soft-landing pad for international commercial interests seeking to take advantage of exciting opportunities in Africa. We connect people, products and ideas from around the globe through our year-round calendar of international trade fairs, blockbuster consumer shows and prestigious international conferences, which are complemented by our innovative free zone and award-winning real estate developments. As the region’s largest purpose-built complex for events and exhibitions, we provide a platform for unparalleled business and networking opportunities. More details on WTC Accra can be found on their website, http://www.wtcaccra.com.

●        At the end of 2022, the index closes at 5.4%, 3.2 percentage points above the year's first half and a growth of 4.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

●        Leasing projected to recover faster than the sales segment.

●        Premium office sales for the first half of 2023 show positive outcomes.

Bogotá, Colombia (December 6, 2022) – The World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®), a global network of more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries, has launched its 5th edition of the WTCA Prime Office Index Latin America (LatAm) in partnership with global business publication Latin Trade. Through this index, the WTCA seeks to highlight the current situation and outlook for premium office leasing and sales in Latin America. In December 2021, the index closed with a positive result of 1.2%. One year later, the trend maintained, and in December 2022, the index closed at 5.4%, a total growth of 4.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

This index, which consults experts from more than 20 cities in Latin America, seeks to track the recent performance and prospects of leasing and sales of premium office space in Latin America on a semi-annual basis. For the second half of 2022, the results grew 3.2 percentage points versus the first half of 2022. The overall trend is one of stability, and the expectation is continued improvement. Overall, the results show that perceptions of the current situation and expectations for the first half of 2023 are better for leasing than for premium office sales in Latin America. 

The study identified that the performance of the premium office leasing market would maintain a positive trend as prices continue to rise. About 40% of the experts surveyed emphasized that prices increased during the semester. Towards 2023, 50% of the experts believe that vacancy times will decrease, and only 5% think they will grow.

As for the premium office sales market during the second half of 2022, the performance was slightly less favorable than that expected by experts in the year's first half. About 75% of those interviewed said sale prices remained stable, while 20% saw increases. Premium office sales for the first half of 2023 show positive outcomes, as more respondents believe that average prices will continue to increase and that the waiting time to sell will decrease. Still, some respondents again stated, as they did in the previous survey, that political uncertainty, rising inflation and interest rates present significant challenges for the sector.

Although company employees have been working remotely since the pandemic, there has been a gradual return to in-person work in Latin America. Many companies and employees see this return in a positive light. In addition, 45% of those surveyed say that companies will discourage remote work for their employees; 40% believe that they will not change their current model; and the remaining 5% believe that they will encourage remote work. Remote and hybrid models do not affect the premium office market. However, 70% of the experts consider that the permanent arrival of remote or mixed forms of work would reduce the selling price of premium offices by less than 10%.

"The responses, although varying, generally pointed to the fact that there are no major risks to the prime office building infrastructure as it has been recovering from the pandemic without interruption over the past two years. Companies have adapted to a hybrid work format and still need office space to provide employees the option to work in-person, and are reinventing the office space with post-pandemic trends including more environmentally sustainable offices, better technological infrastructure (i.e., internet connections), and better lifestyle services (i.e., gyms, training centers, child daycare, among others). For 2023, the challenge is clear — it is important to incentivize companies to rent or buy premium offices to meet the interest of companies who want to encourage employee presence in their office spaces. And, at the same time, to meet the needs of employees who also wish to return to the office, they must provide conditions that generate well-being in the work environment," stated Carlos Ronderos, WTCA Regional Director, Latin America.

For the full report, visit https://latintrade.com/2022/11/29/wtca-prime-office-index-latam-december-2022/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Kasik

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: ckasik@wtca.org

Violet PR

David Margolis 

Phone: +1 917 331 4855 

Email: david@violetpr.com 

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 92 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.