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Istanbul , KL , Winnipeg , Moscow , Sharjah …
In Turkey , Okay Başbuğ , foreign affairs deputy manager , WTC Istanbul , explains the WTC there is a 500,000sqm complex . “ We rent 11 exhibitions halls , consisting of 100,000sqm , and operate a business centre consisting of three towers and a shopping mall . We also have two luxury hotels and a convention centre .
“ Shows taking place at our facilities include the annual home textile show , boat show , motorbike show , and furniture show .
“ We have also made a significant investment for the renovation of our exhibition halls over the past year , although the pandemic has greatly affected our business . However , we are more hopeful for this year ’ s calendar of events .”
In Canada , The WTC Winnipeg was founded in 2012 , and president and CEO Mariette Mulaire says it marked an important opportunity for Manitoba companies to access new trade opportunities .
“ A major achievement was organising the first-ever global business-to-business forum in Manitoba ’ s history .” The WTC has since hosted multiple editions .
“ Patrons of the Centrallia conference could walk around like they would at a tradeshow ,” Mulaire remembers . “ They were able to see and experience what different regions could offer to clients in terms of trade , investment opportunities , and creating business connections .”
In Malaysia , Dato ’ Sri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim , executive director , WTC Kuala Lumpur , explains that WTCKL has hosted some of the biggest international conferences and exhibitions , including the PATA General Conference in 1986 , CHOGM Head of State Meeting ( 1989 ) and the International Book Festival . “ Locally , we held the MATTA Fair and the Malaysian Technology Expo . These partners are loyal customers of ours
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and have made WTCKL their venue of choice in holding many events .”
WTCKL is one of 90 WTCs in the Asia-Pacific region and Dr Ibrahim says it is more important now than ever , during the pandemic , that there is a continuity in staying connected and a diversification of the trading services that the centres provide .
WTCKL , like WTCs around the world , recently received a Global Helpdesk tool , an online platform that allows users to compare demand for products across markets , explore tariffs and other market access conditions , access details about buyers and navigate domestic export processes .
WTCKL has been upgrading its own technology , too , and is working on a hybrid studio for virtual conferences and shows . Dr Ibrahim notes : “ In April 2021 , we hosted the International Business Review ASEAN Awards here in one of our halls . Viewers were able to livestream the ceremony . Other events include the E-Sports PUBG Tournament that was held in 2019 where gamers came from across the Asia-Pacific .”
Head of trade analytics section at WTC Moscow , Aleksei Savrasov says that in the over 40 years since WTC Moscow was founded it has witnessed many significant political , economic and cultural events .
WTC Moscow has welcomed G8 meetings and leaders from the Asia-
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Above : WTC Sharjah |
Pacific Economic Community , he notes , and adds that it is part of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation , the largest and oldest business association in the country . “ WTC Moscow actively co-operates with entrepreneurs from many countries and in joint events , as well as organising its own events ,” Savrasov says .
There are more than 30 conference halls and meeting rooms — both at the congress center and in the on-site hotel . “ We welcomed two WTCA General Assemblies — one in the USSR in 1981 and one in the Russian Federation in 2012 ,” Savrasov adds .
Saif Mohamed Al Midfa , CEO , Expo Centre Sharjah ( WTC Sharjah ), says that WTC Sharjah is a pioneer in the exhibitions industry and boasts may well-established B2B and B2C events , including the Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show , held twice a year , and the popular Sharjah International Book Fair , the third largest event of its kind in the world .
Al Midfa says the WTC even hosted 20 physical events during 2020 , resuming events by the middle of last year . “ We even launched a new event ( Jewels of Emirates Show ) last November . And the experience of the past year has helped us schedule more than 40 events this year .”
“ We gave businesses single-point access to a slew of opportunities that no other network could .”
WTC Sharjah has 42,000sqm of indoor and outdoor floor space and has played host to Xposure – Photography Conference a photo festival and an educational platform that combines a range of photography events and exhibitions , including a dedicated photographic and video production tradeshow .
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