BELGRADE, MAY 17 (ONASA – OTS) – What is the key value of the World Trade Center (WTC) brand in strengthening regional trade and attracting investments in the Western Balkans?
Over the past two years working for the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), I have always been more and more impressed with the transformational power that WTCA licensing brings and its impact on global trade, business innovation and economic growth. This was evident during my visits to our locations, where I spoke with local tenants, mostly small and medium enterprises from various sectors. I witnessed the development of their competitiveness through access to unexplored markets, alternative suppliers, distributors and partners around the world and growing internationally alongside the parent World Trade Center (WTC) – thanks to the leasing of office space in the WTC facility.
Given that we are not a franchise organization, I got to know different models and concepts of WTC business. WTCA licensees shared inspiring success stories with me, stressing that they managed to develop their core business at a record speed, regardless of the sector they come from, and that at the same time they had a positive impact on the growth of the local community. Municipal and state officials with whom I met on various occasions confirmed the fact that the cities where the WTC is developed often become the most influential hubs and access points for global trade and investment opportunities.
We are open and transparent, business-oriented, apolitical, multicultural, contemporary and influential in changing the economic environment of a certain city and region. Relying on the strength of the world’s most trusted WTC brand, WTCA can contribute to the competitiveness of the economies of the Western Balkans both in the European and global context on their way to the regional economic space, the most dynamic regional initiative. I am convinced that we can help economic actors in Belgrade, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Tirana, etc. and the entire region of the Western Balkans to expand international credibility and business trust, as well as to become more resistant to constant changes in the market so that they can overcome long-term economic challenges.
In what way does WTCA plan to expand its presence in Europe and the Western Balkans in the coming years, and to which type of institutions and companies does this apply the most?
Any company or institution that aspires to develop internationally can benefit from the prestigious WTC brand. While private investors are driven not only by possible success in the financial sense, but also by creating some kind of legacy for the local community, public institutions recognize the WTC concept as a proven means to strengthen economic growth and increase employment.
The strategic documents of WTCA clearly emphasize that the most engaged members are the greatest value of our organization. In addition to the real estate component, they also provide a full range of trade services (i.e. market assessments, market entry programs, training on current topics such as sustainability, various trade gatherings with targeted B2B connectivity, etc.) and promote our brand worldwide. All this makes my work, in movement across Europe and the Western Balkans, easier and significantly more productive.
In order to strengthen our visibility and reach, we also cooperate with prominent international organizations. In mid-May, I will attend the meeting of the Airports Council International (ACI) Commercial Forum for Europe in Innsbruck, where I will present examples of our best practice in European airports, and in October I will meet with the biggest players in the real estate sector at EXPO REAL in Munich to, between among other things, discussed the advantages of membership in our organization in terms of using the WTC brand as a way to reduce the phase of non-utilization of unfilled office buildings.
Although the prospects for the European economy in 2024 leave room only for cautious optimism, we receive applications for membership from Germany and Spain to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro from both the private and public sectors, as well as public-private partnerships. This confirms that the moment is right for the economies of the Western Balkans to cooperate with the WTCA to promote their economic potential and achievements in improving the investment and business climate over the past two decades. Regardless of the challenges that remain in the coming years, WTCA membership can help expand their trade routes and foreign direct investment horizons.
What are the expectations of the Association of World Trade Centers for the year 2024 regarding the growth of the number of members and improvement of business opportunities for them?
The WTCA community proudly welcomes new members from all over the world every year. In its 55-year history, it has truly proven itself as a network of mutual support with a growing perspective even in the most challenging times. In the first quarter of 2024, we observed an increased interest in membership in India, Brazil and across the European continent, especially in the countries of the Western Balkans.
In the role of WTCA Business Development Leader for Europe, I took responsibility for “opening doors” in 50 European countries and territories for our members to connect and manage new markets in an environment of trust. I continuously identify local development projects whose goals are aligned with our global mission of fostering international business connections and trade. One of the very important aspects is that the project bearing the WTC brand has the full support of the local government and the business community, as well as that it can contribute to the prosperity of the local community.
To illustrate how we at WTCA inspire growth and empower business, I would like to mention that on the sidelines of this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, we merged our newest member from India with multiple licenses (licenses for WTC Shamshabad, Visakhapatnam, Hosur and Genome Valley) with WTC Lugano, our long-standing member from Switzerland, in order to explore the possibilities of joint action. In April, we participated in the annual conference of the Delphi Economic Forum and used this exceptional international networking platform to discuss with the Mayor of Athens how we can join forces and encourage the launch of a new business WTC project in the Greek capital, a market where we are not yet present. We will promote the unique values of WTCA at our leading regional and global gatherings this year.
The European WTCA community is preparing for the first Investor Open Day on June 10 in the German city of Dresden. Will it be an opportunity to establish new connections with German companies, and what are the main topics and goals of that gathering?
Whether you are a city representative, a real estate investor or a business leader, the premier WTCA Investor Open Day under the slogan “Unlock the WTC Potential” under the auspices of WTC Dresden will present a valuable perspective on the future of global trade and the many benefits of a WTCA license.
Investors’ Day participants will gain useful insights into the rich history and global reach of the WTCA business network and coherent insights from a series of presentations by WTC experts. Experts will point out how the WTCA license introduces a real revolution to the European real estate market and turns ordinary buildings into dynamic international business centers that attract global companies, achieve higher rental rates and encourage innovation and investment flows. On the other hand, over 50 European WTCA delegates from different sectors – from Dublin and Rotterdam to Lisbon and Yerevan – are looking forward to making new business connections with Saxony’s business community and sharing their experiences with a wider group of potential World Trade Center investors.
From my professional point of view, the real work starts after the Investor Day, when there are working visits across Germany, the aim of which is to support decision-makers from the public and private sectors and present the ways in which the WTCA license can realize the full potential of their development projects. . In times of numerous structural challenges that Europe’s economies are facing, the opportunity to gain and win a competitive advantage in an atmosphere of trust that the WTCA provides becomes more significant than ever. (end)