World Trade Center North Carolina reopens, focused on improving Research Triangle Region's global competitiveness

Research Triangle Region, N.C. – The World Trade Center North Carolina (WTCNC) has reopened as a program of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) and will coordinate implementation of the global competitiveness strategy for the 13-county Research Triangle Region of North Carolina.

“In today's global marketplace, our region’s economic future will depend on our ability to compete and connect with companies and partners around the world,” said RTRP President CEO Charles A. Hayes, president and interim chairman of the new WTCNC board. “We see the new World Trade Center North Carolina at the heart of a growing and dynamic network of business, government, community and academic leaders who will work together to ensure that our companies and our communities are well positioned to do business successfully on a global scale.”

The new World Trade Center North Carolina will work with members and partner agencies to:

• Increase foreign direct investment in the region.
• Promote global trade and exports.
• Elevate the region's global brand and recognition.
• Educate the region's leaders about global economic issues.
• Build global networks that promote trade and investment.
• Coordinate international activities regional to achieve maximum results.

The WTCNC is now governed by a board of dues-paying members who provide financial support, oversight and strategic direction for the organization and its activities. New members are being accepted to help fund and steer the organization's as its pursues its new initiatives.

Officers of the new WTCNC are:

• Interim Chair Charles A. Hayes, president & CEO, RTRP
• Past Chair Carol Conway, consultant
• Vice President and Secretary Doug Aitkin, vice president of global strategy for RTRP and director of the World Trade Center North Carolina

Current board members are:

• Ted Abernathy, executive vice president, RTRP
• Robert Greczyn Jr., president & CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and newly elected chair of the RTRP board of directors
• Duane Long, chairman, Longistics
• Harvey Schmitt, president & CEO, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
• Rick Weddle, president & CEO, Research Triangle Foundation
  
  

The original World Trade Center North Carolina was created in 1988 as a trade support organization, with funding from the North Carolina General Assembly. State funding was discontinued in 2004 and the World Trade Center NC discontinued offering services in 2005.

A 2005 study commissioned by RTRP to assess the region’s current international assets and opportunities concluded that the World Trade Center North Carolina franchise could be of great value in promoting the Research Triangle Region globally if properly funded and positioned to coordinate the region’s global economic development initiatives.

RTRP in March 2006 released its global competitiveness strategy, "Focusing All Eyes on the Horizon." The three-year, $2.25 million plan outlines 45 action steps to be implemented by dozens of agencies across the region and state of North Carolina that are involved in international trade and commerce. The plan called for the World Trade Center North Carolina to become a program of the RTRP to coordinate implementation of the regional strategy.

The former World Trade Center board voted in May to approve the transfer of the franchise to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. The transition took effect on May 28.

For more information on becoming a member of the World Trade Center North Carolina or participating in the global strategy, contact Doug Aitkin, vice president for global strategy at 919) 281-2742 or wtcnc@wtcnc.org or visit www.wtcnc.org.

The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) is a public/private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county region of North Carolina comprising Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties. RTRP manages the regional competitiveness strategy, called "Staying on Top: Winning the Job Wars of the Future." For more information, visit www.researchtriangle.org.