Supervised by the International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Bureau of Foreign Trade), Taipei World Trade Center (also known as WTC Taipei), operated by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, was honored with the Champion Award for Innovation by the World Trade Center Association (WTCA) on the evening of March 6th, 2024. Taipei World Trade Center has actively pursued innovation in recent years through the use of digital technology to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in global expansion. The effort earned Taipei World Trade Center recognition for its achievements among the six nominated WTCs, leading to its receipt of the award.
From March 3rd to 6th, the 54th Global Business Forum (GBF), an annual event conducted by World Trade Centres Association (WTCA), was hosted in Bengaluru, also known as the Silicon Valley of India. The event attracted over 230 participants from 36 countries, including nearly 110 members of World Trade Centers, for relationship-building and networking. The winners of the 2023-2024 WTCA Champions Award, held biennially, were officially announced during the gala dinner on March 6th.
Taipei World Trade Center has pioneered innovative approaches in business promotion by leveraging cutting-edge technology. With a commitment to assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in staying ahead of the technological curve, Taipei World Trade Center has developed an economic and trade data analysis platform utilizing big data. Additionally, WTC Taipei has integrated AI into B2B platforms, facilitating translation services in over 70 languages to help companies overcome language barriers and expand their reach into global markets. The prestigious award served as a testament to Taipei World Trade Center's unwavering dedication to excellence.
The WTCA Annual Meeting, organized by various regional World Trade Centers selected from registered members, is a gathering for its members worldwide, corporate delegates, and political and business figures. The 2024 Global Business Forum, themed EPIC: Empowering Progress through Innovation & Collaboration, was hosted by the Bengaluru World Trade Center. The event aimed to showcase the economic potential of the Bengaluru region in India. With the support from the Bengaluru Chamber of Commerce, it provided a platform for B2B matchmaking opportunities spanning 12 industries, including aerospace, food processing, automotive, biotechnology, information technology, and manufacturing. India, currently ranked as the world's fifth-largest economy, is projected by S&P and Morgan Stanley to ascend to the third-largest economy by 2030. Goldman Sachs went further, forecasting India's eventual surpassing of the United States to become the world's second-largest economy by 2075.
The Taiwan External Trade Development Council joined WTCA in 1981 under the name of Taipei World Trade Center, with its representatives continuously elected as directors and holding influence among the 24 directors. WTC Taipei President & CEO Simon Wang successfully ran for election for the first time in September 2021 and occupies one of the three seats in the Greater China region. Taipei World Trade Center currently has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, to assist Taiwanese companies in connecting with India. After TAITRA won the Champion Award for Innovation from WTCA under the name of Taipei World Trade Center, Simon Wang stated that WTC Taipei will continue to promote digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX), making good use of AI digital technology to help Taiwanese companies seize global opportunities.
Official Press Release from WTCA: World Trade Centers Association Reveals Global Winners of 3rd Biennial Champions Awards (prnewswire.com)