November 2011 WTCA Spotlight: WTC Hull & Humber

What makes WTC Hull & Humber unique?
The mix of private sector partners is what makes WTC Hull & Humber special. The WTC's private sector consortium of partners includes:
* Andrew Jackson - well-established law firm covering all areas of business, with a strength in shipping
* Henderson Insurance Brokers - leading independently owned commercial insurance broker in the region
* Neill & Brown Global Logistics - provides UK, European and global logistics services
* Language is Everything - language services company providing interpretation and translations
* G-West - in-store marketing and point of purchase specialist working in all areas of creative agency design
* Select Group - business IT solutions company, providing analysis, design, implementation and support
* HSBC - banking and financial services organization providing a full range of banking services
* Mapa Public Relations - award-winning public relations and communications agency 

By Robert J. Frueh, WTCA Director of Member Services

The 2011 WTCA General Assembly was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil October 9-12 to a broad audience spanning over 260 delegates from nearly 100 World Trade Centers.

BEIJING, CHINA - The 2012 WTCA Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM 2012) will be held in Beijing from February 22-24, 2012, at the Traders Hotel of China WTC (Beijing).

ROGERS, ARKANSAS, USA - WTC Arkansas is proud to be named a recipient of the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP) grant.

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - With the approval of the United States-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Colombia now has three FTAs with developed countries, bringing the country closer to its goal of concluding thirteen treaties with more than fifty countries by 2014.

LIMASSOL, CYPRUS - WTC Cyprus had the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Cyprus Ideal Home Exhibition, which was held at the Cyprus Expo Fair Grounds from October 6-9.

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - WTC Washington, D.C. (Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center) welcomed 25 members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on September 7.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - On September 19, the Dutch Green Building Council awarded ING Real Estate Investment Management Netherlands and WTC Amsterdam's E-Tower the BREEAM-NL Existing Building and Use Certificate.

EDMONTON, CANADA - In October 2012, WTC Edmonton will host one of Northern Canada's premier trade and economic conferences.

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - In January 2010, United States President Barack Obama announced the National Export Initiative (NEI), a comprehensive strategy aimed at doubling American exports by the end of 2014, while supporting millions of new jobs.

BANGALORE, INDIA - In October, WTC Bangalore hosted a networking dinner with Mr. Tony Keane, CAE, president and CEO of International Facility Management Association (IFMA).

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - WTC Istanbul hosted Expo Summit Turkey 2011, an international conference on the Turkish exhibition industry that took place at WOW Convention Center in Istanbul from September 29-30.

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA - On September 27, WTC Charleston, an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, hosted a reception to officially open its doors to new members.

LIMASSOL, CYPRUS - WTC Cyprus organized a two-day seminar from October 18-19 on e-commerce and social media marketing.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, USA - During the 42nd annual WTCA General Assembly, held in Sao Paulo from October 9-12, WTC Fort Lauderdale finalized an agreement with WTC Bogota to jointly promote investment and trade opportunities between the two regions.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - On October 6, at WTC Marseille, some 600 participants, 24 journalists, 40 exhibitors, 57 partners and professionals, 120 travel agents, and 350 students attended the 11th edition of Top Cruise, the business-to-business event created by the "Club de la Croisière Marseille Provence" (Marseille Provence Cruise Club).

Following a recent decision by the WTCA Board of Directors, the deadline for WTCs to submit proposals to host the 2013 WTCA General Assembly has been extended to November 15, 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - WTC Washington, D.C. (Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center) announced the appointment of its Trade Director Andrew Gelfuso to the position of advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC) on Services and Financial Industries, where he will offer guidance on multilateral, regional and bilateral trade negotiations.

MISSOULA, MONTANA, USA - In September 2011, Montana WTC Missoula received a $298,814 grant to support its National Export Initiative Support Project (NEISP), a private-public partnership intended to help Montana's businesses increase exports to international markets.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - On September 20, 2011, WTC Mumbai and the Academy of Business Studies in New Delhi jointly organized a session entitled "Controlling Food Prices in Turbulent Times: An Agenda for South Asia" during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2011, held at WTO Headquarters in Geneva from September 19-21.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - WTC Moscow has had a busy slate of events this October. On October 5-7, its buildings, which were awarded the prize for Best Congress Facility in Moscow in both 2010 and 2011, were host to the VTB Capital 'RUSSIA CALLING!' Investment Forum, which was attended by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

EDMONTON, CANADA - On October 12, representatives of WTC Edmonton and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce met with the organizers of an initiative called ThirdQuarter.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, USA - Deborah Kielty, president and executive director of WTC Baltimore, has been elected vice chair of the Procter & Gamble Alumni Network (P&G Alumni Network).

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA - On October 20, WTC New Orleans hosted 40 visiting heads of mission from Washington, D.C., as a part of the U.S. Department of State's "Experience America" Tour.

MUMBAI, INDIA - At a meeting organized by WTC Mumbai and the All India Association of Industries (AIAI) on September 29, Professor Piotr Klodowski, Polish ambassador to India, said that the volume of trade between India and Poland is clearly increasing and that statistics regarding economic relations between India and Poland are promising.

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY - From October 6-7, a six-member delegation from WTC Mumbai visited Uruguay, and was hosted by Professor Nelson Pilosof, president of WTC Montevideo.

PESCARA, ITALY - WTC Cape Town's Africa Initiative and WTC Pescara are proud to present AFRITALIA, the first of five confirmed annual commerce exchange events.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - After much anticipation, WTC Taipei officially launched Taiwantrade Mobile, a smartphone application.  

LIMA, PERU - In October, WTC Lima participated in the 42nd WTCA General Assembly in Sao Paulo, bringing a delegation of Peruvian companies to the gathering.

ALMERE, THE NETHERLANDS - Together with network organization BUSINESS, WTC Almere organized an informal networking event in the WTC's building, Carlton Tower, on September 22 for entrepreneurs, managers and board members from the region.