Events

“Afghanistan Beyond the Headlines” Virtual Conference March 9to feature List of VIP U.S., Global Speakers Opportunities for US-Afghanistan Trade and Investment from the Traditional to the Future New Castle, DE, March, 2021—World Trade Center Delaware is hosting a huge virtual conference titled, “Afghanistan Beyond the Headlines” 8:30-10 am on March 9 to feature a range of VIP global and U.S. speakers from The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the International Trade Administration, the Office of the General Counsel, the Port of Wilmington (Gulftainer) and U.S. Senator Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. Afghanistan presents significant opportunities for two-way trade and capital investment for US companies. Trade prospects range from the traditional (spices, carpets, and precious and semi-precious gemstones) to the contemporary: telecommunications, Fintech, transport and logistics, construction, healthcare and biotechnology. The program also will showcase capital investment opportunities for US companies in Afghanistan and introduce Afghan businesses to the benefits of locating in Delaware. At this workshop, participants will learn how to: • Determine which sectors provide the greatest opportunities for trade• Identify and build relationships with buyers• Identify and build relationships with suppliers• Determine which sectors provide the greatest opportunities for foreign investment• Position their company to become attractive to foreign investors • Identify and secure types of financing Officials and Experts to speak will include: - H.E Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani, Minister of Industry and Commerce- Nancy Bikondo-Omosa, Senior Procurement Specialist The World Bank- Alexander Hawkes, Economic and Trade Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul- Jocelyn A. Steiner, Attorney Advisor, Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Commerce- Ambassador Ross Wilson, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. US Embassy Kabul - H. E. H.E. Roya Rahmani, Afghan Ambassador to the United States (first female ambassador from Afghanistan)- U.S. Senator Chris Coons- U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester- David Harris, Vice President, Commercial Operations at Gulftainer, GT USA, Wilmington- Others TBA“We are very excited to present such an outstanding line up of speakers,” said World Trade Center Delaware President Carla Stone. “All businesses that want to do trade in the Middle East should attend this once-in-a-lifetime event including business owners, company leaders, export and import managers, lenders, attorneys, accountants, fund managers and more. This is one event you won’t want to miss.” Program Sponsored by: WTC Kabul and WTC Delaware Founded in 2020, World Trade Center Kabul is the newest member of the World Trade Centers Association. Currently under construction and opening at the end of 2021, the WTC Kabul's campus will be an iconic 5-star property consisting of a deluxe office and apartment/ hotel complex, retail shops, and other facilities and amenities. It will be both the headquarters for established global companies and an incubator for aspiring global entrepreneurs and an exciting and vibrant international hub in the heart of Kabul. World Trade Center® Delaware is the state’s premier international business resource. We help companies grow their international business through our membership with the World Trade Centers Association, a global network of 320 World Trade Centers in nearly 100 countries. Our connections help local businesses succeed in new markets, increase profitability, expand employment and attract investment. We provide trade leads, training programs, job leads, networking, matchmaking, and inbound and outbound trade mission opportunities to all types of companies in various sectors. The result is that our members and clients can deliver higher quality goods and services while saving time and money. Please be sure to contact us for all your international business needs. We Grow Trade® and our mission is to serve you. For more information visit us at www.wtcde.com.

A teleconference titled “Are You Ready for Blockchain?” featuring Michael Marquardt, the CEO of Global Kompass Strategies, Inc., will be hosted by the World Trade Center Delaware February 5 at 1:30 pm ET to give an overview of this exciting new data technology platform and discuss its importance to local businesses and international trade. The importance of businesses learning about the concept of Blockchain now is similar to the time when the Internet and e-Commerce were emerging back in the late nineties, says Marquardt, who has served as a Blockchain advisor to the State of Delaware and has been a Global Advisor to the Delaware Prosperity Partnership. “The reason they need to know about it is to be able to determine whether it might impact their business and enable them to deliver a higher level of customer service, reduce their costs and offer services or products they couldn’t before. It’s better to be in on what’s coming earlier rather than later.” Marquardt is an international business leader who has run companies in the technology and healthcare sectors and served as president of the global risk management company founded by former FBI Director Louis Freeh. He is a corporate director who has chaired and served on boards of corporations based in Paris, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur. He is also the Vice Chair of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors and is co-chairing the national search for the next CEO of the Society. Michael was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1991 a year and a half after witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall to attend college and graduate school, and he became a U.S. citizen in 2002. World Trade Center Delaware President Carla Stone urges state business owners and leaders in a variety of fields to attend the event including those in IT, finance, insurance, law, accounting, and more. They can expect to learn what Blockchain is and what it means for their businesses and international trade and best practices for its use, as well as find out about additional resources.

FREE WEBINAR: Trade Finance Tools for U.S. Exporters Join Us: Wednesday, July 22nd at 11:00 am EST Please join the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. and World Trade Center Delaware for a live webinar about trade finance tools for U.S. exporters. Topics will include:- How trade finance solutions can help mitigate risk in today's business climate and expand sales in new or existing markets- How World Trade Center Delaware assists companies, especially small, medium sized, or emerging, to grow their international business.- How to offer credit terms to your foreign buyers- How to protect against non-payment for your foreign buyers Featuring Remarks From: U.S. Senator Tom CarperDelaware Kimberly A. ReedEXIM Bank President and Chairman Featured Speakers Carla Sydney StonePresidentWorld Trade Center Delaware Regina GordinDeputy Managing Director of Small Business Group, EXIM

Take Your Business Global Celebrating Women's History Month and International Women's Day A WORLD TRADE CENTER DELAWARE® ROUNDTABLE Thursday, March 19, 2020 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A Webinar Viewing Session followed by Discussion with Experts from the U.S. Small Business Administration Featuring Ellyn Herbert NCC Economic Development Specialist Woman-owned Business Representative U.S. Small Business Administration Mike Rossi Lender Relations Specialist District International Trade Officer U.S. Small Business Administration Space is Limited Registration is open to World Trade Center Delaware Members until March 10th after which it will be open to the public. Location World Trade Center Delaware 42 Reads Way, Suite B New Castle, DE 19720 This is a free event but registration is required!

The World Trade Center Delaware (WTC Delaware) will host Opportunities for Delaware-Africa Trade: Kick-Off to US-Africa Business Summit, March 12, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University and Whist Club, 805 North Broom Street, Wilmington, Del. The event will showcase opportunities to increase trade between Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic region, and Africa. “This workshop is unique because it also will include a forum for attendees to meet individually with ambassadors from countries with some of the fastest growing economies in Africa, officials from U.S. government international trade assistance agencies, and a representative from the Corporate Council on Africa”, said Carla Stone, president of World Trade Center Delaware. Featured guests include Ambassador David John Newman, Republic of Botswana; Ambassador Haidara Mamadou, Republic of Cote D’Ivoire; Ambassador Monica N. Nashandi, Republic of Namibia; Heather Lanigan, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa; and Antonio Ceballos, U.S. Commercial Service, Director, Philadelphia, and,. Akaego Okoye, Director Member Relations at The Corporate Council on Africa. The luncheon speaker is Eric Casey, CEO of GT USA, Wilmington, the operator of the Port of Wilmington and part of Gulftainer, the world’s largest private port operator. Last year, 6 out of the 10 fastest growing economies were in Africa. Businesses won’t want to miss this opportunity to link their companies with leaders from African countries with fast growing markets.

Honoring 100 Years of Romania and Delaware Friendship and H.E. George Cristian MAIOR, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Romania This celebration will include:Entertainment provided by US and Romanian International Dance Champions For sponsorship Opportunities and Tickets, please contact info@wtcde.com

Join United States Senator Chris Coons, EXIM Bank Deputy Managing Director, EXIM Bank Export Finance Manager and regional trade finance experts as they discuss the types of financial resources available to small and medium sized international businesses. This comprehensive workshop will help importers and exporters understand the range of financial assistance offered to help them engage in profitable trade and reduce the risk of international transactions. Foreign company buyers also are encouraged to attend so that they are aware of all the financing options.

Senator Chris Coons will welcome Delaware business owners to “OPIC: A Seminar for Small Businesses Entering Emerging Markets,” a free half-day seminar presented by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, at The Westin Wilmington on the Wilmington Riverfront. The seminar is designed to introduce small- and medium-sized businesses to the OPIC finance and political risk insurance tools available to support them. OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. It fulfills its mission by providing businesses with financing, political risk insurance, advocacy and by partnering with private equity investment fund managers.

Celebrate World Trade Month with Delaware’s International Business Community. Connect with countries around the world. Build relationships with the region’s Consular officials. Meet World Trade Center Delaware members. This networking event will provide an informal platform to connect with the Delaware area international business community.

This workshop will prepare US companies to comply with the EU's new General Data Protection Regulation• Do you have any European customers? • Are you planning to market to any country within the EU?• The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the most important change in data privacy regulation in 20 years.• It goes into effect on May 25, 2018. • Failure to comply with the GDPR could result in stiff fines as high as 4% of your company’s overall revenue Featuring Experts from U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, Brussels