Over 400 Leaders from More Than 50 Countries/Territories Attend World Trade Centers Association's 55th Annual Global Business Forum in Marseille, France
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 Marseille Provence have successfully concluded the 55th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Marseille, France.
The World Trade Centers Association's 55th Annual Global Business Forum in Marseille, France, hosted by World Trade Center Marseille Provence focused on navigating global trade
The four-day event, which took place April 6-9, brought together WTCA members and their global networks, including leaders from business, government, academia, and international organizations. Each gleaned new insights on shifting global trade dynamics, cross-border real estate investments, the importance of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) and sustainability efforts. Over 400 attendees across more than 50 countries and territories, and nearly 120 WTC businesses, gathered to forge new global business connections, and to learn about specific opportunities in Marseille, a popular Mediterranean port city and the oldest city in France.
With the theme, 'Gateway to the Mediterranean,' the Forum helped attendees amplify their businesses' growth and international reach, further elevating WTCA's core mission, 'Connecting Businesses, Globally.' The event included more than 20 workshops, plus various keynotes, panels, local company tours and over 500 business-to-business (B2B) meetings. In addition, GBF attendees learned more about the Marseille region's business climate, including: its strategic position as a gateway to Southern Europe, North Africa, and Middle Eastern markets; the city's wide range of thriving industries, from maritime and logistics, to digital technology and biotechnology; and its ongoing infrastructure investments. Select WTC businesses also participated in the 'Connections Showcase' to formally acknowledge the meaningful connections and promising conversations initiated with those they met at the WTCA GBF.
This year also marked WTCA's first dedicated Real Estate Summit during the GBF. During this portion of the event, global experts analyzed the state of commercial real estate, including its role in driving economic growth, and ways in which sustainable infrastructure and energy innovation continue to shape the future of developments. Additional topics of discussion included hyper-growth areas like data centers and logistics facilities.
Amid shifting global policies and economic uncertainties, the WTCA network showcased at this year's Forum how it continues to be a vital and resilient force, fostering dialogue collaboration and trust across borders. Sessions held throughout the GBF focused on how the role of trade organizations is not only increasingly relevant, but is more indispensable than ever as businesses are actively seeking guidance, access and a global perspective. Leveraging its unparalleled global network, WTCA showcased how its members bridge market gaps and open doors to new business opportunities, while also elevating a city's global profile and connecting it to the world economy. To help in strategic business planning, WTCA's members around the world are able to provide on-the-ground information and valuable resources that can be shared throughout the network to create more cross-border connections.
'Our annual Forum stands as a powerful reminder of what is possible when business leaders from around the world come together in the spirit of collaboration – and that's precisely where the WTCA network excels,' said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. 'In today's climate, WTCA remains committed to promoting free and fair trade, open markets and healthy competition. We believe these principles foster an environment that attracts investment, drives prosperity and fuels economic growth. Through our global network of independent WTC operations – built on trust and collaboration – we actively support these principles by facilitating international business connections and trade opportunities worldwide. This year's GBF showcased the real value of connection: forging strategic partnerships between our WTCA members and local/international business delegates; opening new pathways to trade; and reaffirming our shared commitment to free, fair, and open commerce. Together, we will continue to 'Keep Calm and Trade On.' We are thankful to WTC Marseille Provence for hosting such a wonderful event to demonstrate the power of our global network.'
Speaking during one GBF session titled 'Global Outlook: Navigating Trade and Investment Trends in 2025,' Angela Ellard, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), outlined the intergovernmental organization's role in navigating new trade policies, including the implementation or threat of tariffs. Her advice for GBF attendees was to remain level-headed and to consider not just the immediate effects, but the broader, long-term effects on global stakeholders.
Benoit Vincent, CEO of WTC Marseille Provence, also said of the event, 'This year's GBF underscored the vital role the Marseille region plays in shaping the future of international trade – we offer a thriving environment for innovation, industry and global collaboration. In partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Internationale) Provence Alpes Cte d'Azur, we united to host a B2B matchmaking platform that resulted in over 500 B2B meetings, connecting delegates from around the world with each other as well as with local Marseillaise companies. We are proud to have hosted an event that actually goes beyond dialogue – sparking real connections to catalyze regional and international business growth.'
The 2025 WTCA GBF concluded with a ceremonial announcement of next year's host during a Gala Dinner sponsored by Turkish Airlines. The 56th annual WTCA GBF is scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, USA from April 19-22, 2026, and will be hosted by WTC Greater Philadelphia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
EU official says 175 mn euro Syria recovery package 'clear message' of support
EU headquarters in Brussels (AP) Damascus: Visiting EU commissioner for the mediterranean Dubravka Suica said Thursday that a 175 million euro package for war-torn Syria was a "clear message" of support for its reconstruction. Suica announced the package in Damascus Wednesday, saying it would focus on sectors including energy, education, health and agriculture, helping rebuild Syria's economy, support its institutions and promote human rights. "I came here... with a clear message that we are here to assist and help Syria on its recovery," Suica told AFP in an interview on Thursday. "We want that reconstruction and recovery will be Syria-owned and Syria-led," she said, on the first visit by an EU commissioner since a transitional government was unveiled in late March. "We want to see Syria to be a regular, normal, democratic country in the future," she added. Syria has been navigating a delicate transition since Islamist-led forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after nearly 14 years of civil war. The European Union announced last month it would lift economic sanctions on Syria in a bid to help its recovery. "This is a pivotal moment, a new chapter in EU-Syria relations," Suica said on X, calling her meeting with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa "constructive". Like Syria's neighbours, Western governments are keen to steer it onto the road to stability after the war triggered an exodus of millions of refugees. Refugee returns should be "safe, voluntary and dignified", Suica said. The EU has not designated Syria as a safe country for returns "because we don't want to push people to come here and then they don't have a home", she said. The EU last month sanctioned three Syrian militia groups and two of their leaders for serious human rights abuses over their alleged involvement in sectarian massacres in the costal heartland of the Alawite minority, to which Assad belongs, in March. "We cannot pronounce one part of Syria safe and another not," Suica said, noting that designating Syria a safe country needs "unanimity among 27 European member states". She said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani would attend a ministerial meeting involving almost a dozen Mediterranean countries in Brussels on June 23. A statement released on Wednesday said that the European Commission was "actively pursuing the integration of Syria into several key initiatives with its Mediterranean partner countries". "We want to see Syria united" and inclusive, Suica told AFP. "This is a process. It will happen step by step."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
'India buying arms from Russia rubbed US the wrong way., but ... ': Trump administration official makes big statement
NEW DELHI: The United States Commerce Secretary on Tuesday said India's longstanding arms trade with Russia had previously strained ties with Washington, but a gradual shift towards US-made military equipment is now helping pave the way for a bilateral trade deal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'There were certain things that the Indian government did that generally rubbed the United States the wrong way,' Lutnick said while addressing the eighth US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC. 'For instance, you generally buy your military gear from Russia. That's a way to kind of get under the skin of America if you're going to buy your armaments from Russia. I think India starting to move towards buying military equipment from the United States, which then goes a long way. ' Lutnick confirmed that a trade agreement could be sealed in the 'not too distant future,' suggesting momentum has picked up between the two nations. 'You should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not too distant future,' he said. 'When they put the right person in India, put the right person on the other side of the table, and we've managed (that), I think.' India's historical reliance on Russian defence suppliers has long been a sore point in its ties with Washington, especially amid increasing US sanctions on Russian entities. But Lutnick underlined that things are changing. 'The President calls that out directly and specifically, and the Indian government is addressing it specifically. And that's how you move on to a really positive place. Put it on the table, address it straight on, resolve it straight on and get to a really good place. And I think that's where we are,' he said. The Forum, which focused on scaling bilateral trade to $500 billion, saw strong messaging on accelerating negotiations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now India's trade with the US currently stands around $191 billion, and both sides aim to conclude the first phase of a bilateral trade deal by September or October 2025. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal echoed the sentiment, saying both countries were committed to 'preferential access' for businesses and working together towards the agreement. Lutnick acknowledged the urgency surrounding the current negotiations. 'These kinds of deals used to take two or three years and we're trying to get them done in a month,' he said. He also praised India's proactive approach: 'I think India is trying hard to be one of the earlier countries, which I appreciate.' Tariff barriers are also under discussion, with Lutnick stating that reducing them was 'absolutely on the table' to build a mutually beneficial trading partnership. He further attributed the warm diplomatic climate to the strong rapport between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. 'President Donald Trump is the only person in our administration elected by the full United States of America and so does PM Modi in India,' he said, calling the relationship 'pretty unique' and conducive for smooth negotiations. The forum also featured warm remarks from US lawmakers. Congressman Rich McCormick hailed Modi as 'the most influential politician ever in India,' and praised India's growing alignment with American capitalist values. Second Lady Usha Vance added a personal touch, recounting her family's visit to India. 'Our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes… he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there.' The comments come as both sides work to conclude the trade deal before the July 9 deadline set by President Trump. While Washington had previously threatened broad tariffs on trade partners—excluding China—those have been paused for 90 days as negotiations continue.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Popular Spanish Destination Limits Tourist Cars, Caravans
Spain's island of Ibiza -- a hugely popular Mediterranean destination -- from Sunday started limiting the number of incoming tourist cars and caravans because of the huge numbers of visitors it gets. From June 1 to September 30, the daily number of vehicles used by non-residents is now capped at 20,000, the local government explained to one of the island's newspapers, El Periodico de Ibiza y Formentera. Of those, 16,000 are rental cars available on the island, while the rest of the quota is for private cars making ferry crossings, as long as they get a prior authorisation to do so. Caravans also need to show they have a reservation at a camping site, and are not allowed to be parked anywhere in the countryside. Motorbikes are excluded from the seasonal restrictions. The head of Ibiza's government, Vicent Mari, told the newspaper that the change was to "guarantee the sustainability" of the island, which has 150,000 inhabitants but receives some 3.6 million tourists per year, along with the smaller Formentera island nearby. Official statistics show that the number of vehicles on the island's roads quadrupled over the past two decades, from 51,000 in 2002 to 207,000 in 2022. Mari said various interests operating in Ibiza -- including car-rental firms and big companies -- had resisted the limits, but argued that were necessary "to regulate and control unsustainable (tourist) flows". Formentera island already restricts vehicles, and another Balearic islands hotspot, Mallorca, is planning to do so next year. Altogether, the Balearic islands attract 19 million tourists per year, a sizable part of the 94 million who visit all of Spain, which is the second-biggest destination for visitors in the world, after France.
