World Trade Centers: Gateways to the Global Marketplace (cont.)

The San Diego WTC’s strategies for success focus on:

• Maximizing business opportunities along the Pacific Rim through San Diego WTC’s unique Asia Desk, which positions companies for trade with the 24 vibrant markets of Asia;
  
  
• Providing export training for foreign-born San Diegans, so they can leverage their foreign language fluency, cross-cultural knowledge and homeland connections to create jobs and competitive advantage for San Diego and regional businesses;
  
  
• Leveraging its board and community relationships with academia, trade associations and government to position the region internationally and disseminate timely trade-related information; and
  
  
• Meeting the trade education needs of its members and stakeholders by remaining flexible, innovative and strategic.

WTCA support and reciprocity

In close cooperation with its members, the WTCA continually looks for opportunities to create innovative services for traders. In 1985, it was the first organization in the world to offer global e-mail and database services, including a bulletin board of trade opportunities. The WTCA also created TradeCard (www.tradecard.com), a Web-based platform that automates trade transactions from procurement through payment.

The WTCA represents 248 members in 70 countries, including 65 WTCs in North America. These centers service more than 750,000 international trading corporation. (Click for larger image.)

Reciprocity and mutual assistance among members are a fundamental part of the WTCA’s mission. This means a member of any WTC is automatically a member of every WTC.When a client of the WTC in Denver, for example, is interested in exploring trade opportunities in Taiwan, he or she can call on the extensive services of WTC Taipei and receive the same assistance as one of their local clients.With WTCs now in 85 countries, it’s a powerful network for servicing WTC clients wherever they may be.

The WTCA also works to improve the quality of services offered by member WTCs by establishing performance standards and a certification system for each essential WTC service. In addition, periodic training programs are offered for WTC staff, and selected senior staff members visit both new and veteran members to offer guidance on all aspects of their operations.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 took the lives of almost 3,000 people that terrible day.WTC New York, our flagship facility, was destroyed along with the Association’s offices on the 77th floor of the north tower. Fortunately, all our staff members survived, although there were some severe injuries and emotional trauma. For all members of the association, the horrible event hardened their commitment to our mission – not only to promote prosperity and economic development, but to continue to build bridges of constructive commerce and peace among peoples everywhere.

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