WORLD TRADE CENTER More than just a building or an organization, a World Trade Center (WTC) brings together business, educational and government agencies involved in international trade, provides essential trade services and stimulates the economy of the region it serves. A WTC puts all the services associated with global commerce under one roof. Currently, there are over 300 World Trade Centers in key cities around the world. However, until now, there has been no fully functioning WTC in the intermountain West between Denver and the Pacific coast. The core purpose of World Trade Center Utah (WTCU), in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development International Office, is to help create, promote and support Utah jobs and revenue growth from global trade. WTCU works every day to motivate, educate, and facilitate international business in Utah, while serving as a “one stop shop” for all issues of global commerce. As a public-private partnership, WTCU works closely with its key partners, including GOED, USTAR, EDCU, the Chambers of Commerce around the state, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and our many educational institutions in Utah. The WTCU is bringing together private and public sectors by offering a variety of critical business resources such as: • Technical assistance • Training classes and seminars • Strategy development • Market analyses • Trade leads, matchmaking opportunities, sales and sourcing leads • Introductions to potential clients or partners • Counseling and mentoring • Access to other licensed world trade centers around the globe
International Festival hosted by WTCU and Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
With these trade tools available under one roof, Utah businesses can undertake the most effective globalization of their products and services. With the rapidly expanding competition from abroad, it is imperative that we keep Utah on the international trade map. A Utah WTC is an ideal catalyst for increased - and profitable - international trade. Utah now has the unique cultural, educational, economic and foreign language foundation to make a World Trade Center possible, necessary and successful.
Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report 2007
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