NEW YORK, NY – March 17, 2025 – World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®) — an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries and territories — and  World Trade Center (WTC) Marseille Provence  will host the 55th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF)  in Marseille, France from April 6-9.

The association's annual Forum assembles both WTCA members and their global networks, including leaders from business, government, academia, and international organizations. More than 300 attendees from more than 50 countries and territories have confirmed their participation. Currently, represented countries and territories include: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China Mainland, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guyana, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Vietnam and Yemen.

The four-day event offers a range of programming, including “Strategies for Success in an Evolving Marketplace,” “Free Trade Zones as Engines of Growth,” and “Navigating Trade, Real Estate and Investment Trends in 2025.” New this year, WTCA is featuring a Real Estate Summit for attendees with specialized sessions on “World Trade Center Projects in Focus,” “Expanding the Real Estate Horizon: Innovation and Resilience in a Changing World,” “and “FDI Trends Reshaping Real Estate & Infrastructure.”

With the theme “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” this year’s Forum features an opening address from John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors; and Benoit Vincent, CEO of WTC Marseille Provence. Other notable speakers include: Angela Ellard, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization; Ken Levinson, CEO of the Washington International Trade Association (WITA); Penny Naas, Lead GMF Allied Strategic Competitiveness of the German Marshall Fund of the United States; Lionel Johnson, President of the Pacific Pension and Investment Institute; Lia Rochat, Founder of Archismart Energy; Philippe Veran, Co-Founder and President of Biotech Dental; Jacopo Dettoni, Editor of fDi Intelligence/Financial Times; Edward Grunwald, Partner and Sales Director of Revolugo; Daniel Tchenio, Director at CBRE Marseille; Amal Louis, Director of Business Development and Intermodal Solutions of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille – Port de Marseille Fos; and Samir Hamrouni, CEO of the World Free Zones Organization.

“WTCA remains committed to promoting free and fair trade, open markets, and healthy competition — principles that drive investment, prosperity and economic growth,” said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. “Now more than ever, as businesses navigate shifting global trade policies and economic uncertainty, the annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) provides a vital platform for members and their networks to connect, explore new markets, and gain critical insights. With an active and engaged B2B program supported by a robust matchmaking platform, this year’s GBF reinforces our commitment to fostering partnerships and expanding global opportunities.”

Demonstrating the strength of the global WTCA network, the Forum facilitates direct business-to-business (B2B) relationships and investment opportunities across industry sectors including agriculture, architecture, banking and financial services, construction and building materials, consumer goods, food and beverage, freight and logistics, health technology, industrial solutions, manufacturing, maritime and energy services, and tourism.

This year’s Forum features structured B2B matchmaking sessions, connecting attendees directly with companies and individuals who align with their specific business needs. In partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Internationale) Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, the GBF B2B matchmaking platform becomes immediately available to attendees upon registration for the event.

Marseille was chosen for this year’s event given its role as a critical European hub for trade, innovation, and economic activity. The Mediterranean region connects three continents and plays a vital role in global commerce, boasting strong industries in maritime trade, logistics, energy, tourism, and technology. Hosting the GBF in Marseille provides WTCA members and attending delegates with unparalleled access to this dynamic market, offering opportunities to explore investment prospects and engage with leaders shaping regional and global trade.

“Our region has long been a crossroads of global trade, driving economic growth and fostering international collaboration. Between its strategic location, diverse industries and thriving innovation ecosystem, Marseille is the ideal setting for this year’s Forum,” said Benoit Vincent, CEO, WTC Marseille Provence. “This event will create new opportunities for investment, trade, and partnership in one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions.”

Last year’s WTCA Global Business Forum was held in Bengaluru, India, bringing together nearly 300 attendees from 36 countries and territories, including 105 WTC businesses. The event marked the debut of the "Global Business Forum" under its new name, formerly known as the WTCA General Assembly, and featured over 300 scheduled B2B meetings and the signing of 12 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between WTCA members in various regions and with some local Indian business partners, strengthening global partnerships and expanding business opportunities worldwide.

For more information about the 2025 WTCA Global Business Forum, please visit wtca.swoogo.com/2025gbf. Also, follow along on social media via #WTCAEvents and #WTCAinMarseille.

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 nearly 100 countries and territories. 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, creating an ecosystem built around commerce, community and connection. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

About World Trade Center (WTC) Marseille Provence

Established in 1984, World Trade Center (WTC) Marseille Provence stands out as a genuine emblem of the regional economy, to make it a decisive driver of the region’s international dynamics and attractiveness. WTC Marseille Provence has evolved its offer to meet the entrepreneurs’ expectations.

Located in the heart of the city of Marseille and in the perimeter of Euroméditerranée, WTC Marseille Provence proposes exceptional places: business, convention centers and a corporate club, connected to the global World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) network. WTC Marseille Provence is a certified ISO 20121. To learn more, visit www.wtcmp.com/en.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/world-trade-centers-associations-55th-annual-global-business-forum-to-convene-in-marseille-france-302402161.html?tc=eml_cleartime

WTCA members gathered in New York to explore innovative strategies and strengthen partnerships that will enhance international business 

NEW YORK, NY ( November 12, 2024) — World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®), an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries, held its 2024 WTCA Member Forum from October 27-29 in New York City. The three-day event attracted nearly 145 attendees, including 45 first-time attendees, who gathered to participate from nearly 80 unique WTC businesses representing 26 countries and territories around the world. Under the theme “PIONEER the Global Network: Pathways for Innovation, Opportunity, Networking, Empowerment, Excellence, and Resilience,” this year’s event brought together WTCA members for panel discussions and presentations, providing essential tools to navigate the ever-changing global business landscape. Sessions delved into emerging trends in global business, along with best practices and collaborative opportunities across markets, offering actionable insights to help members strengthen their roles locally and elevate WTCA’s global influence.

Highlights from this year’s Member Forum included presentations on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as “AI in Global Trade: A Fireside Chat on Navigating the Future of International Business” and “Transform Your WTC Business with AI,” both of which explored AI’s transformative potential in global trade and business growth at all scales. The event also featured discussions on bridging generational divides, empowering female leaders, building resilient communities and leveraging data. It concluded with the WTCA North America Regional Meeting, uniting members to advance WTCA’s regional goals.

“The annual Member Forum is really a key event that keeps us all together as a network and as a family. It is always interesting to learn from each of the WTC businesses — about what they are doing in their local regions and how it impacts the association,” said John E. Drew, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors. “WTCA is highly adaptable, as shown by the diversity of new member businesses in our network, and this year’s event focused on the fantastic new and diverse business models, ideas and services being offered across the association. As we celebrate WTCA’s 55^th anniversary this year, I couldn’t be more thrilled to see how this association continues to grow and adapt to the evolving needs of various industries and shifting economies in the years to come.”

The "Road to 500" initiative, WTCA’s strategic vision focused on expanding its global Membership to 500 WTC locations over the next decade, was a central focus of discussions at this year’s event. A key session, “The Road to 500: WTC Free Trade Zones,” highlighted the far-reaching expansion of Free Trade Zones and Special Economic Zones globally, and how WTCA is actively developing partnerships with these trade zone entities in support of its membership goal. The Association also welcomed eight new WTCA Members including WTC AMTZ, WTC Future City, WTC Hinjawadi, WTC Jeju, WTC Osaka, WTC Pittsburgh, WTC Sarajevo and WTC Tokyo, in which several presented their new projects that aim to boost economic development within their regions through the power of the global WTCA network.

Attendees also took time to celebrate the achievements of members that became WTCA accredited over the past year, including WTC Chennai, WTC Cyprus, WTC Kuala Lumpur, WTC Monterrey, WTC Montevideo, WTC Suzhou, WTC Taipei, WTC Trieste and WTC Twente. These members underwent the rigorous WTCA Accreditation program that provides formal validation of a WTC business’ commitment to excellence within the network and beyond.

The 2024 WTCA Member Forum also marked the official countdown to the highly anticipated 55th Annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF), which will be hosted April 6-9, 2025 by WTC Marseille Provence in Marseille, France. The 2025 WTCA GBF theme, “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” highlights the region’s pivotal role in connecting global trade and innovation, with a focus on strategic access to Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Attendees will explore new markets, participate in exclusive sessions, and forge partnerships while leveraging WTCA’s global network to drive business growth.

“The 2024 Member Forum was a remarkable success in reconnecting with fellow colleagues, fostering new partnerships and discovering business opportunities amongst our members,” said Crystal Edn, WTCA Executive Director of Member Services. “We were proud to highlight the achievements of our members over the past year, showcasing the incredible impact they have both within their communities and on the international stage. As we look forward to gathering in Marseille, France for the upcoming GBF, we are excited to see how these collaborations will continue to evolve and drive new business opportunities for organizations our global network serves.”

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 nearly 100 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, creating an ecosystem built around commerce, community and connection. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

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

Xiamen and Beijing, China (October 2, 2024 ) — World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®) — a global network of more than 300 highly-connected, mutually supportive businesses and organizations across nearly 100 countries/territories — recently presented at two leading international platforms in trade and investment —the 2024 China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) held in Xiamen, China from September 7-11, 2024 and the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) held in Beijing, China from September 12-16, 2024.

CIFIT focuses on connecting investors, traders, service providers and government agencies to China and the rest of the world, and is hosted annually by the China Ministry of Commerce. WTCA has also participated in CIFIT for the past 13 consecutive years via trade missions and forums to provide its global membership base and business network access to the Chinese market.

During this year’s CIFIT, WTCA co-hosted the “Gulangyu Forum 2024: World Business Leaders Roundtable for Global Investment” — with the theme of Investment Strategy in the Context of Globalization — in partnership with the Xiamen Municipal Government, CCPIT Fujian, and CCPIT Xiamen/WTC Xiamen. The Forum, previously known as the “World Business Leaders’ Roundtable,” has been successfully held annually for the past 23 editions and this year marked the 10 ^th consecutive year that WTCA has co-hosted the event.

Immediately following CIFIT, WTCA participated in CIFTIS — an event focusing on fast-growing and emerging areas of service trade hosted annually by the China Ministry of Commerce and Beijing Municipal Government. Since 2016, WTCA has served as an official international partner of CIFTIS to co-organize forums with the participation of WTCA members.

During this year’s CIFTIS event, WTCA co-hosted the “2024 Seminar on International B2B Cooperation” with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Office for Investment and Technology Promotion (Beijing, China) and the Beijing Association for Trade in Services in an effort to bring more global projects and facilitate B2B meetings at CIFTIS. WTCA also co-hosted the “International Consumption Global Trends Conference” in partnership with the China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Commercial Association, Beijing Association for Trade in Services, and China Federation of Economic Media, gathering an impressive lineup of experts and business leaders to discuss the momentum and trends in consumption sectors.

Scott Wang, WTCA Vice President, Asia Pacific, attended both fairs and delivered opening remarks. He was interviewed and featured by multiple Chinese media to share insights about WTCA as well as international trade and investment.

Click here to view the full media coverage report.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

Chanelle Dimalanta

Phone: +1 212 432 2644

Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org

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 nearly 100 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, creating an ecosystem built around commerce, community and connection. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

New York, NY ( October 1, 2024) — World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®), an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries, will host its 2024 WTCA Member Forum from October 27-29 in New York City. With the theme P IONEER the Global Network: Pathways for Innovation, Opportunity, Networking, Empowerment, Excellence and Resilience , this year's event will highlight WTCA’s revitalized brand and the innovative tools that empower its membership. As the association progresses toward its 500-member goal, it is embracing its commitment to adapt to the changing times, foster the next generation of leadership and focus on initiatives to remain at the forefront of local and global economic development.

The three-day WTCA Member Forum is one of the association’s annual flagship events. Attended by world-renowned trade and real estate development industry experts, and WTCA member businesses, the annual event is set to engage attendees through a series of panels and interactive educational workshops. The event is aimed at equipping WTCA members with the tools needed to navigate an ever-evolving international landscape and uniting the collective members of the WTCA community to shape the organization’s future.

Particular attention, this year, will be given to the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in global trade, addressing generational differences in the workplace, practical skills development and revenue generation strategies for member companies.

“The annual Member Forum is more than just a collective gathering — it is a catalyst for growth and innovation within our expansive global network. It also helps us to envision and expand on internal initiatives that build the framework for an even stronger association in the years to come. There are tremendous efforts underway within the association such as our ‘Road to 500’ and Free Trade Zone initiatives, which will undoubtedly bolster the strength and reach of our global network,” said John E. Drew, Chair, Board of Directors of WTCA. “Additionally, as AI is reshaping the future of the global trade industry, this year’s Member Forum will provide a collective opportunity for us to embrace this technology as a valuable opportunity to enhance our collective work in economic development and streamline operations at WTC businesses around the world.”

The 2024 WTCA Member Forum will also kick off the official countdown to the highly anticipated 55th Annual WTCA Global Business Forum, which will be hosted April 6-9, 2025 by WTC Marseille Provence in Marseille, France.

Crystal Edn, WTCA’s Executive Director of Member Services, shared, "Each year, our annual Member Forum brings remarkable new partnerships, ideas and opportunities for our global WTCA members. Our goal for this year's event is to spark ongoing conversations that extend well beyond the Forum. The gathering of our members not only highlights their achievements, but also strengthens the role of our network in innovating the future of international trade by ‘Connecting Businesses, Globally.’”

The 2022 and 2023 Member Forums united over 140 WTCA member businesses from 50+ countries and territories. This year, it will continue to offer unparalleled opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration.

For more information about the 2024 WTCA Member Forum and to view the agenda, please click here . 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

For any media interested in attending the event, please contact: 

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 nearly 100 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, creating an ecosystem built around commerce, community and connection. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

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.