New York, NY (March 25, 2024) — 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 Bengaluru have successfully concluded the 54^th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Bengaluru, India. The five-day event, which took place March 3-6, brought together WTCA Members, international B2B delegates and local Indian business delegates comprised of leaders in business, government, academia, media and international organizations to hear insights from chief dignitaries representing the state of Karnataka and key experts from around the world; engage in conversations on current trends across AI, agritech and real estate; and explore India’s economic development. Nearly 300 attendees across 36 countries and territories, and 105 WTC businesses gathered to learn about the business opportunities in Bengaluru, Karnataka and throughout India, and to forge new global business connections. The 2024 WTCA GBF marked the meeting’s debut in Bengaluru since its rebrand, further elevating WTCA’s core mission, “Connecting Businesses Globally,” and the highest WTCA Member turnout at the annual event since 2017.

With the theme, “EPIC: Empowering Progress through Innovation & Collaboration,” the GBF included addresses from the Hon. Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. D.K. Shivakumar and Sri. M.B. Patil, Minister of Large & Medium Industries, Infrastructure Development on India’s economic development, growth potential and business opportunities, especially in the state of Karnataka as the sixth-largest state in India aims to become a USD $1 trillion economy by 2032 by growing at a sustained growth rate of 18 percent. Sri. D.K. Shivakumar’s felicitations stressed that Bengaluru's association with the World Trade Centers Association symbolizes an enduring legacy of excellence and achievement, and how the GBF would bring attendees to work together, think together, and visit important places in Karnataka, offering them insights to bring back to strengthen their businesses. Sri. M.B. Patil also discussed that the state will drive automation and develop AI-powered subscription products or services, through partnering with technology companies to leverage Industry 4.0 technologies; and introduce a new clean mobility policy that aims to position Karnataka as the premier destination for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. Romal Shetty, CEO of Deloitte South Asia, also gave a keynote address unveiling the new Deloitte research report, "India as an Investment Destination and Scope of Karnataka." Other notable speakers included M.R. Jaishankar, Executive Chairman of Brigade Group, who gave the opening remarks with John E. Drew, Chair, Board of Directors of the WTCA, to welcome GBF attendees to the state of Karnataka, known as “One State, Many Worlds,” and to kick off this year’s premier annual event.

In partnership with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), the event offered onsite B2B matchmaking services, with over 300 scheduled B2B meetings, connecting delegates with business opportunities in Karnataka and across the international market.  

“This year’s GBF successfully united WTCA Members from around the world with local Indian businesses, underscoring our commitment to establish interconnected business networks around the world. We selected Bengaluru to host our first rebranded GBF as we focused more on B2B matchmaking and implemented it as a new initiative to strengthen the business connections we normally make during our annual events. Having a partner like BCIC ensured the quality of local Indian business delegates for our attendees to connect with,” said Mr. Drew. “The GBF exemplified our dedication to promote international investment opportunities in India and facilitate meaningful business relationships. We learned and witnessed firsthand, India’s strength as the third largest country in purchasing power in the world, and our members are now leveraging the new connections they made to find ways to drive prosperity and innovation between their regions and India. Following this GBF, we left with confidence that this region is right for investment for businesses as well as for our Membership growth as we further expand our Association.”

“We are honored to have hosted so many incredible leaders from around the world, introducing and sharing Bengaluru’s diverse talent pool, growing innovation sector, and world-class hospitality,” said Vineet Verma, newly-appointed WTCA Board Member and Managing Director of World Trade Center Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi. “India aims to be a global production hub, attracting many global companies to invest here, and we look forward to nurturing new relationships and furthering strategic partnerships with those who attended this year’s GBF.”

Additionally, another indication that India is ripe for investment is the interest in establishing partnerships between India and around the world. During the GBF, a total of 12 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signings between WTCA Members in various regions, and between WTCA Members and BCIC took place – most notably, MOUs were signed between WTC Bengaluru, WTC Twente and BCIC fostering a partnership between the Netherlands and India; and between WTC Bengaluru, WTC Riyadh and BCIC fostering a partnership between Saudi Arabia and India.

The 2024 WTCA GBF concluded with a grand ceremonial announcement of next year’s host. The 55th annual WTCA GBF is scheduled to take place in Marseille, France from April 6-9, 2025, and will be hosted by WTC Marseille Provence.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org

Violet PR

Kate Traina

Phone: +1 908 967 2117

Email: kate@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

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, 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 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) Bengaluru

World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru is a licensed member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), headquartered in New York. Promoted by the Brigade Group, it was set up in 2010 to help develop an international business platform specific to the region of Bengaluru and Karnataka as a whole. WTC Bengaluru meets specific needs of its clients & partner organizations by providing international market research, business matchmaking and connections to valuable public and private resources, as well as through the planning of strategic trade missions, trade educational programs and networking events. In addition to Bengaluru, the Brigade Group has operational WTC businesses in Chennai & Kochi along with upcoming locations in Hyderabad, Devanahalli and Thiruvananthapuram. To learn more, visit www.wtcbengaluru.org.

Attendees at the 2024 WTCA Global Business Forum held March 3-6 in Bengaluru, India. Photo Credit: World Trade Center Bengaluru.

New York, NY (March 12, 2024) — World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®) — an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries — announced the winners of the 3^rd Biennial Champions Awards during its 54^th Annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) hosted by WTC Bengaluru in Bengaluru, India, honoring exceptional contributions from member businesses within its global network. Nominees were awarded in four key categories: local connectivity, reciprocity/network support, sustainability and innovation. Additionally, outstanding members were honored through the ‘Regional Member of the Year’ awards across the five regions where the WTCA is active, as well as the 'Global Member of the Year’ award.

The Champions Awards recognize WTCA members across a global network of highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations who exemplify the association’s core values and mission. Each category highlights the efforts of WTCA members in driving positive impact both locally and globally. This year’s edition received a total of 45 nominations, recognizing 23 Members across the global network. A judging panel consisting of previous Champions Awards winners, and chairs of WTCA’s Member Advisory Councils and Regional Advisory Councils selected the winners of the 10 categories.

“The Biennial Champions Awards not only recognizes our WTCA Members’ achievements, but also serves as a catalyst for continued innovation and collaboration within the network. In this year’s edition, we introduced several new categories to showcase our global members and the work they do on a daily basis to drive real change that impacts our association’s global footprint. As a result, we witnessed a great number of nominations from our members – nearly tripling the number of nominees from the previous edition,” said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors.

The 3rd Biennial WTCA Champions Awards winners are as follows:

• Champion Award for Local Connectivity: WTC Bhubaneswar for facilitating over 35 trade promotion programs under the Export Facilitation Cell in the last nine months, and being declared as the State Export Facilitation Cell by the State Government of Odisha.
• Champion Award for Reciprocity & Network Support: WTC Savannah for fulfilling 20 reciprocity desk requests from various WTC businesses across India in 2023, supporting WTC Atlanta in their strategic development, collaborating with WTC Accra for the 2023 WTCA General Assembly, and encouraging prospective WTC businesses to join the invaluable WTCA network.
• Champion Award for Sustainability: WTC The Hague/Rotterdam for creating a good living and working environment within their premises, receiving significant awards in Sustainability, and supporting the United Nations’ Sustainability Goals, aiming to become Paris Proof by 2045 and making their buildings as energy efficient as possible.
• Champion Award for Innovation: WTC Taipei for utilizing the latest technologies and innovations to enable dynamic MICE experiences for the community, and their B2B platform featuring "Sales Avatars," which will soon enable real-time translation in over 70 languages, thereby helping SMEs overcome language barriers and reach global markets.
• Regional Member of the Year (Asia Pacific): WTC Bengaluru for operating with transparency, contributing to a culture of trust and reliability among its members and the broader business community in the Asia Pacific region.
• Regional Member of the Year (Europe): WTC Lisboa for hosting a successful European Regional Meeting, representing the WTCA in China to further connectivity, and helping to spearhead the WTCA as a renowned organization for real estate investment and business clubs.
• Regional Member of the Year (Latin America): WTC Monterrey for serving as a beacon of education and activity for its region in Mexico, working with more than 6,000 small businesses throughout the year, and shaping the interests of future generations.
• Regional Member of the Year (Middle East & Africa): WTC Algiers for furthering WTCA's strength in Business Clubs, serving as a gateway to the African and Middle Eastern markets as a reliable partner, andfacilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise by organizing international trade events, conferences, and business forums to enhance economic prospects for its members and the region at large.
• Regional Member of the Year (North America): WTC Savannah for achieving several milestones in 2023 — hosting its fourth annual signature event, attracting over 500 leaders from Southeast USA and being awarded the 2023 International Business of the Year award; leading one of the largest business delegations from North America to the WTCA General Assembly in Accra; and establishing an official city-to-city partnership between Accra and Savannah covering areas such as trade, culture, urban planning, education, environmental justice, healthcare, tourism, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
• Global Member of the Year: WTC Bengaluru (selected by the judging panel from the winners of the five Regional “Member of the Year” categories).

“WTC Bengaluru is honored to be named both WTCA’s ‘Global Member of the Year’ as well as ‘Regional Member of the Year (Asia Pacific).’ Receiving these distinguished awards recognizes our international efforts and our region’s position as a rising investment destination around the world. The recognition was a very welcome surprise as we concluded hosting this year’s GBF with our colleagues and friends around the WTCA network,” said Vineet Verma, Managing Director of WTC Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi; and newly-appointed WTCA Board Member. “With this great honor, we are committed to bolster international trade and B2B opportunities that positively impacts Karnataka and beyond, with WTCA’s mission at the forefront of our work.”

Winners were announced and awarded on March 6 during the WTCA’s GBF hosted by WTC Bengaluru in Bengaluru, India. Over 245 participants from nearly 110 WTC locations across 36 countries/territories representing 52 different industry sectors came together for the association's premier annual event.

"On behalf of the WTCA, I'm delighted to extend our congratulations to this year's winners and nominees — each of these WTC businesses truly demonstrate how our global network has been driven by the imperative to 'connect locally and prosper globally,’" said John E. Drew. "This year’s winners now join an elite group of past Champions Awards winners who have set the standard for global excellence around the network. They are leaders at the forefront of change and innovation, spearheading initiatives that have reshaped industries, forged valuable partnerships, and positively impacted the global landscape for trade and investment. We are proud of the work they do for their local and global communities, and look forward to what they accomplish in the years to come."

To learn more, please visit the Champions Awards website. Also, follow along on social media via #WTCAChampion. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org

Violet PR

Kate Traina

Phone: +1 908 967 2117

Email: kate@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

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, 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 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.

Winners of the 3rd Biennial WTCA Champions Awards. Pictured (left to right): Luciano Menezes (WTC Lisboa), Jan-Willem Kos (WTC Rotterdam), Leigh Ryan (WTC Savannah), Nimeshika Natarajan (WTC Bhubaneswar), John E. Drew (WTCA Chair, Board of Directors), Jasmine Teng (WTC Taipei), Vineet Verma (WTC Bengaluru), Ahmed Tibaoui (WTC Algiers), and Vivek George (WTC Bengaluru). Not Pictured: Eugenio José Reyes Guzmán (WTC Monterrey). Photo Credit: WTC Bengaluru.

New York, NY (February 5, 2024 ) — 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 Bengaluru will host the 54^th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Bengaluru, India from March 3-6.

This will be the first time WTCA presents its newly rebranded Global Business Forum (formerly called the “General Assembly”) in India to focus on the B2B aspect of the event. The rebrand further accentuates WTCA's core mission, “Connecting Businesses Globally,” by shifting focus to the expansion of Members’ international trade presence and integration into various global supply chains.

The association’s premier annual event will bring together WTCA Members and their global networks consisting of leaders in business, government, academia, media and international organizations — reflecting WTCA's diverse global footprint. Over 80 WTC businesses from 30 countries/territories have already confirmed their participation with more to follow. This includes representations from: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China Mainland, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Palestine, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and Yemen, with several WTC businesses bringing delegations to participate in the B2B matchmaking aspect of the event.

With the theme of “EPIC: Empowering Progress through Innovation & Collaboration,” the Forum will feature an engaging keynote address and panel discussions, including a special address from the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. Siddaramaiah and felicitations from the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, March 4. Romal Shetty, CEO of Deloitte South Asia, will provide the keynote address to set the theme of this year’s GBF and unveil the new Deloitte research report ''India as an Investment Destination.'' Other notable speakers include M.R. Jaishankar, Executive Chairman, Brigade Enterprises Limited who will provide the opening address alongside John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. A robust agenda of panel discussions on AI & tech start-ups, exporting overseas, agritech, and real estate will include moderators and panelists: Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited and Brigade REAP; Remy Swaab, Vice-Chair, WTCA (WTC Panama); Uma Reddy, Vice President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI); Prashanth Gokhale, President, Bühler Group India Private Limited; Pavitra Shankar, Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited; Mr. Naresh V. Narasimhan, Managing Partner & Principal Architect, Venkataramanan and Associates (VA); Dr. R. Srinivas, Subject Matter Expert on Smart Cities; and Dr. Tuan Anh, CIO/CXO, Becamex (WTC Binh Duong New City).

“This year’s GBF will not only showcase India, specifically Karnataka, as a rising investment destination of the world, but also serve to strengthen relationships between industry leaders,” said Vineet Verma, Managing Director of World Trade Center Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi; and newly-appointed WTCA Board Member. “This will be an invaluable opportunity to interact with leading innovators and invest in India’s growing economy — backed by our dynamic and skilled workforce.”

The Forum will demonstrate the strength of the global WTCA network, facilitate business relationships and focus on investment opportunities in Karnataka across 12 diverse industry sectors including: Agriculture & Food Processing; Automotive; Aviation & Aerospace; Biotech; Education; Heavy Engineering; IT, ITeS & Electronics; Manufacturing; Real Estate & Construction; Tech Startups; Textile & Garments; and Travel & Tourism. In partnership with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), the event will offer onsite B2B matchmaking services, connecting international delegates with business opportunities in the state of Karnataka. The full GBF program agenda is available here.

India stands as the world’s fifth largest economy by nominal GDP, and the third largest by purchasing power parity. Bengaluru, often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of India,” is renowned for its cutting-edge advancements and innovation hub status. The GBF’s strategic location in Bengaluru will afford WTCA Members and attending delegates with the opportunity to tap into the region’s dynamic and rapidly growing business landscape.

“India is experiencing rapid economic growth, coupled with a surging demand for commercial infrastructure and global business connectivity. As a result, our network has grown phenomenally in the country during the past decade. Today, we have our second largest membership cluster here with 40 Members representing most of India’s major cities and contributing to India’s sustainable development,” said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. “Bengaluru's entrepreneurial spirit makes it an ideal setting for fostering synergies and exploring lucrative business opportunities in one of the world's most promising economic regions.”

For more information about the 2024 WTCA Global Business Forum, please visit https://wtca.swoogo.com/2024gbf/4132448. Also, follow along on social media via #WTCAEvents.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org

Violet PR

Kate Traina

Phone: +1 908 967 2117

Email: kate@violetpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

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, 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 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) Bengaluru

World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru is a licensed member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), headquartered in New York. Promoted by the Brigade Group, it was set up in 2010 to help develop an international business platform specific to the region of Bengaluru and Karnataka as a whole. WTC Bengaluru meets specific needs of its clients & partner organizations by providing international market research, business matchmaking and connections to valuable public and private resources, as well as through the planning of strategic trade missions, trade educational programs and networking events. In addition to Bengaluru, the Brigade Group has operational WTC businesses in Chennai & Kochi along with upcoming locations in Hyderabad, Devanahalli and Thiruvananthapuram. To learn more, visit www.wtcbengaluru.org.

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.