What is the World Trade Center (WTC) brand’s unique value proposition especially in the Western Balkan regional and economic context?

Over the past two years of my journey with the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), I've always been more and more excited about the transformative power of WTCA licensing and its impact on global commerce, business innovation, and economic growth. This was evident during my visits to our locations, for instance in conversations with local tenants, mostly SMEs operating in various industries. I learned how they took advantage of access to unexplored markets, new suppliers, distributors and partners across the globe, and grew internationally with the respective WTC location - simply by renting office space in a WTC facility.

I have been exposed to a variety of WTC business models and concepts, as we are not a franchise organization. WTCA license holders shared inspiring success stories with me, emphasizing that not only were they able to grow their core business at record pace, regardless of the industry, but they also had a positive impact for the growth of the local community. Municipal and state officials with whom I met on various occasions testified that cities that host a WTC business often became the most influential hubs and access points for global trade and investment opportunities.

We are open and transparent, business-oriented, non-political, multicultural, sophisticated and influential in changing the economic landscape of a particular city and region. By leveraging the strength of the world’s most trusted WTC brand, the WTCA can contribute to the competitiveness of the Western Balkan economies in the European and global context on their path to a regional economic area, the most dynamic regional initiative. I am confident that we can help economic constituents in Belgrade, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Tirana, etc. and the entire Western Balkan region to gain additional international credibility and greater business confidence, and to become more resilient to the constant market changes to be able to address long-term economic challenges.

What are the expectations of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) for the year 2024 in terms of membership growth and enhancing business opportunities for members?

The WTCA community is proud to welcome new members from around the world every year. In its 55-year history, it has truly proven to be a mutually supportive network with growing perspective even in the most challenging times. In the first quarter of 2024, we observed increased interest in the membership from India, Brazil and across the European continent, in particular from the Western Balkan countries.

In my role as WTCA Business Development Lead for Europe, I took on responsibility for "opening the doors” in 50 European countries and territories for our members to connect and navigate new markets with confidence. I continuously identify local development projects whose objectives align closely with our global mission of facilitating international business connections and trade. One of the very important aspects is thought that the WTC-branded project is fully supported by the local government and local business community, and can strengthen the prosperity of the local community.

To illustrate the ways in which we at the WTCA inspire growth and empower businesses – on the sidelines of the 2024 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, we brought together our latest multiple license holder from India (licensee for WTC Shamshabad, Visakhapatnam, Hosur & Genome Valley) with our long-standing Swiss Member WTC Lugano to explore synergies. Last month in April, we attended the Delphi Economic Forum’s annual conference and took advantage of this exceptional international networking platform to discuss with the Mayor of Athens how we can join forces to facilitate the establishment of a new WTC business project in the Greek capital, the market where we are not yet present. We will also leverage our 2024 flagship regional and global events to promote our unique values.

How does WTCA plan to expand its presence in Europe and the Western Balkans in the coming years and what kind of institutions and companies are in focus?

The prestigious WTC brand can benefit any company or institution that strives to grow internationally. While private investors are not only excited about the potential financial success but are also excited to create a kind of legacy for the local community, public institutions recognize a WTC concept as a proven tool for boosting economic growth and increasing employment.

The WTCA’s strategic documents clearly emphasize that the organization’s greatest asset is the most engaged Members. In addition to the real estate component, they offer a unique range of trade services (i.e. market assessments, market access programs, training on current topics such as sustainability, various trade-related events along with targeted B2B matchmaking, etc.) and promote our brand worldwide. This makes my ongoing legwork across Europe and the Western Balkans easier and much more productive.

We also partner with prominent international organizations to increase our visibility and outreach. In mid-May, I will attend the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe’s Commercial Forum meeting in Innsbruck to showcase our best practices at the European airports and in October, I will network with the largest players in the real estate industry at the EXPO REAL fair in Munich to discuss our membership advantages, among others, a WTC brand as a way in which to reduce void periods on empty office buildings.

Although the outlook for the European economy in 2024 leaves room for cautious optimism, we receive member applications from Germany and Spain to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro from the private sector, government entities, and public-private partnerships alike. It proves that it is good timing for the Western Balkan economies to partner with the WTCA to promote their economic potential and achievements in improving the investment and business climate over the past two decades. Notwithstanding remaining challenges in the coming years, the WTCA membership can help expand their trade avenues and horizons for foreign direct investment.

The European WTCA community is preparing for the for the first ever Open Investor Day meeting in Dresden, Germany on June 10th. Will that be an opportunity for establishing new connections with German companies and what are the key themes and objectives that will be addressed at the meeting??

Whether you're a city representative, real estate investor, or business leader, this premiere WTCA Open Investor Day “Unlock the WTC Potential” hosted by WTC Dresden will offer invaluable perspectives on the future of global commerce and the multitude of benefits that WTCA licensing offers.

The Investor Day community will gain valuable insights into the rich history and global reach of the WTCA business network and benefit from a series of discussions by WTC experts. They will discover how WTCA licenses are revolutionizing Europe’s real estate landscape, turning ordinary buildings into vibrant international business centers that attract global companies, higher occupancy rates, and drive innovation and investment flows. On the other hand, more than 50 European WTCA delegates from various industries – from Dublin to Rotterdam to Lisbon and Yerevan – are excited about the opportunity to both establish new business ties with the Saxon business community and share their experiences with the wider pool of potential WTC investors.

From my professional point of view, the real work will begin in follow-up of Investor Day on a roadshow across Germany that aims to support and guide decision makers from the public and private sector on how WTCA licensing can unlock the full potential of their development projects. In times of numerous structural challenges facing the economies of Europe, I believe that such an opportunity the WTCA offers to differentiate and gain competitive advantage in an environment of trust is more relevant than ever.