Dear Readers,

Welcome to the June 2026 Issue of the WTCA Meridian™ e-newsletter. 

This month's issue focuses on WTCA Day, celebrated each year on June 12, with a blog post from WTCA Chair John E. Drew on how the Association has evolved during his tenure and the role the global network continues to play in supporting international business relationships, trade and economic growth around the world; the unveiling of the 2nd edition of the Geopolitical Annual Trade Risk Index (GATRI); and a Q&A with first-time attendees at this year's WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Philadelphia. This month's issue also includes upcoming events and news from our Membership, including how Members are celebrating WTCA Day.

P.S. The next issue of WTCA Meridian will be the July/August 2026 Summer Double Issue. Be sure to submit your news and events by Friday, July 24 and you could be featured in our next issue! 

UPCOMING WTCA EVENTS

Check out the full WTCA Events calendar for network-wide conferences, trade shows, networking and more.

Deadline: 2028 WTCA Global Business Forum Bid Applications

Drive investment, partnerships, and global visibility to your city and WTC business. Submit your bid to host the 2028 GBF.

📆 Deadline: June 18, 2026

🔗 Email Sharon Armogan-Aguayo, WTCA Member Engagement Manager, for more details

Deadline: UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026 

Be part of the UNIDO-WTCA Blue Economy Global Call 2026 — an international open innovation initiative seeking scalable solutions across areas such as blue renewable energy, sustainable food systems, green maritime transport, coastal tourism, ecosystem restoration, and blue tech. WTCA Members and their networks are encouraged to participate.

📆 Deadline: June 19, 2026

🔗 More Information

2nd Women@WTCA Community Meeting

📆 Date/Time: June 24, 2026 (09:00-10:00 EDT)

💡 Topic: Building Influence Authentically. Join Melissa Martinez (WTC Santo Domingo) and Alicia Sanchez (WTC Baltimore) for a deconstructed panel conversation exploring how to build influence while staying true to your values. Through real-world experiences and practical insights, they will share strategies for establishing credibility, expanding your network and making your contributions visible.
 
Participants will then have the opportunity to put these lessons into practice through small-group breakout sessions and a guided pitch exercise. Worksheets and take-home resources will be provided to help you apply these insights within your own teams and organizations.

📍 Location: Zoom

🔗 Register Here (Open to WTCA Members only; allies welcome; free to attend)

Best Practice Sharing — Integrated Trade Platforms

📆 Date/Time: June 30, 2026 (11:00 - 12:00 IST) 

💡 Topic: How WTC Mumbai conceptualizes and delivers integrated trade platforms by combining global summits, international exhibitions, and policy dialogues 

📍 Location: Zoom

🔗 More information

🌍 Upcoming 2026 WTCA Regional Conferences

North America Conference

📆 Dates: August 11-13, 2026

📍 Location: WTC Miami l Miami, Florida, USA

🔗 More Information

Latin America Conference

📆 Dates: August 19-21, 2026

📍 Location: WTC Monterrey l Monterrey, Mexico

🔗 More Information

European Conference

📆 Dates: August 26-28, 2026

📍 Location: WTC Ballerup l Ballerup, Denmark

🔗 More Information

Middle East & Africa Conference

📆 Dates: September 07-09, 2026

📍 Location: WTC Cairo l Cairo, Egypt

🔗 More Information

Asia Pacific Conference

📆 Dates: November 18-20, 2026

📍 Location: WTC Jakarta l Jakarta, Indonesia

🔗 More Information

🎟️ NOTE: At least one free ticket is available for every WTC business located in each of the regions, with discounted tickets available for additional attendees. Limited quantities, so register early.

2026 WTCA Member Forum (Virtual)

📆 Dates: October 27-28, 2026

📍 Location: Virtual

🔗 More Information

2026 WTCA DAY: WHY GLOBAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS MATTER NOW MORE THAN EVER

(4-minute read)

WTCA Chair John E. Drew reflects on how the Association has evolved alongside the changing dynamics of global business during his tenure, and the role the global network continues to play in supporting international business relationships, trade and economic growth around the world.

Read more >

2ND EDITION OF THE GEOPOLITICAL ANNUAL TRADE RISK INDEX (GATRI)

(2-minute read)

Monday, June 8 marked the launch of the second edition of the Geopolitical Annual Trade Risk Index (GATRI), a joint initiative of the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) and World Trade Centers Association.

Explore the new GATRI 2026 tool and learn how geopolitical risk is impacting global trade. 

Read more >

Q&A WITH FIRST-TIME WTCA GBF ATTENDEES

(3-minute read)

During the April WTCA GBF, hosted by WTC Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP), the WTCA HQs and WTCGP teams asked first-time GBF attendees (both WTCA Members and B2B delegates) why they decided to attend the Association's premier annual event and what surprised them most about the global network.

Read more >

WTCA DAY CELEBRATIONS

Check out how WTCA Members are celebrating the 24th annual WTCA Day (June 12).

WTC Accra: WTCA Day Celebration Series — a special five-day LinkedIn campaign from June 8–12 highlighting its mission, partnerships, impact, and vision for the future of trade. "5 Days. 5 Themes. One Shared Vision." 

WTC Metro Manila: Created a dedicated video to celebrate WTCA Day. 

WTC Pune: Hosted 2026 WTCA Day – Destination India alongside the WTCA Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) on June 9. Check out this full recap from the WTCA APRO team.

🎉 Attention WTCA Members: Join the Celebration! Participate in our digital campaign to celebrate the 24th Annual WTCA Day on Friday, June 12!

This year's campaign celebrates the spirit of WTCA by highlighting the connections, collaborations, and opportunities made possible through our global network. We invite your WTC location to showcase how your affiliation with WTCA has created meaningful impact through trade development, real estate, business clubs, FTZs, partnerships, or other collaborative initiatives.

Show you're connected with WTCA! Email events@wtca.org for the 2026 WTCA Day graphics and more information on how to participate. 

AROUND THE WTCA NETWORK

Discover how WTCA Members are driving innovation, trade and growth across the globe.

From WTCA's recent participation at CCPIT Summit 2026; to the launch of Canada Connects; to a WTC business' partnership and exclusive exposure visit to World Skill Center; and the recent Ireland Gateway to Europe (IGTE) trade mission to the U.S. (Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and Delaware)... Read what's happening around the WTCA network.