World Trade Center-Kansas City News: November and December, 2022

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

The World Trade Center – Kansas City is wrapping up a productive and exciting 2022. We finished out the year strong with many exciting events and connections with our partners and businesses. At the beginning of November, our very first Heartland Export Accelerator cohort graduated from the program. Congratulations to AeroMod, Shark OFF, and Cherry Co. Applications for our next cohort are open now.

Locally, WTC-KC participated in Global Entrepreneurship Week. In partnership with U.S. Commercial Service – Kansas City, we spoke to entrepreneurs about expanding their businesses globally, giving tips on how to identify the best global markets, network globally, and grow through international trade. In addition to Kansas City, we had the opportunity to share WTC-KC’s services and programs with entrepreneurs in Topeka, as part of Go Topeka’s GEW programming.

Our global focus for the close of the year was China, as we took advantage of programming from the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. WTC-KC co-hosted the local webinar of the Annual China Town Hall with the International Relations Council and University of Kansas Center for East Asian Studies. At the Town Hall, Jon M. Hunstman Jr., Former Ambassador to China, Russia and Singapore, touched on important issues from COVID to the CHIPS Act, and emphasized that trade is the glue in current U.S.-China relations. WTC-KC sent a representative to the 2022 U.S.-China Subnational Symposium, co-hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the University of Michigan Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, and the Michigan-China Innovation Center. At the symposium, WTC-KC was briefed on the current political state of China, and its effect on U.S. businesses, both large enterprises and SMEs. The symposium was a great forum to learn from peer state and city organizations on engaging in subnational diplomacy with China, and creating the most opportunity and value for our businesses.

Before we ring in the New Year, we hope to see you at two last events of 2022. Join us on December 14, as we host the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver for a “Doing Business with Taiwan” roundtable. Register here.

WTC-KC thanks you for all your support in 2022. Happy holidays - we will see you in 2023!