Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to the second edition of our TradeWinds digital newsletter. TradeWinds is published by the World Trade Center Washington, DC and is the official newsletter for the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC). This issue covers a few of the many dynamic events and programs we hosted here at the RRB/ITC in recent months, all of which meet our mission of fostering trade dialogue and international business connections.

Over the summer, we had the honor of hosting India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi while he was in Washington at the invitation of President Biden for an official State Visit. The purpose of this visit was to showcase a partnership of democracies looking into the 21st century with hope, ambition, and confidence. It was an honor for us to serve as the select host venue and partner with the U.S.- Indian Community Foundation for his closing program. We also had the pleasure of hosting the Washington International Trade Association’s Annual Dinner, better known as the WITA Trade Prom! It was a celebratory evening honoring the work of remarkable trade professionals. Another summer capstone in keeping with our mission to promote international trade and partnerships was hosting the Africa Export Import Bank as they officially announced the launch of their “Africa Global Legacy Fund”. We were delighted to serve as one of their select program partners as they continue this global roadshow in the coming months to further their campaign. Lastly, we are honored to host, #FriendshipTakesFlight, an ongoing art installation comprised of over 8,000 handmade paper cranes to celebrate US-Japan relations. Please see below to learn more. 

We have many exciting events lined up for our fall calendar. We invite you to stay connected, attend our in-person and hybrid programs and stay tuned as we announce new and exciting business services in the coming months.

Wishing you an enjoyable last few weeks of summer and an invigorating start to the fall!

Warmest regards,

Allyson Browne McKithen

We had the honor of serving as the host venue for an exclusive “meet and greet” event, where Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressed over 900 members of the Indian diaspora and business community. The gathering took place on June 23rd at the conclusion of the Prime Minister’s state visit to the United States. The event was organized by the US-Indian Community Foundation in partnership with the WTCDC.

During his address, the Prime Minister thanked the diaspora community for their participation, in such large numbers, from around the United States, representing all corners of India. He said that the gathering constituted a “mini-India” within the RRB/ITC.

Click here for the full story.

The 2023 Annual WITA/WITF Dinner was held on July 19th, where members and guests connected with fellow trade experts, business leaders, and dignitaries in a celebratory setting. Held annually since 1995, the annual dinner attracts hundreds of top decision-makers, policy shapers, and trade experts from DC and around the world. This year's event attracted over 500 attendees from the international trade community and reached a large audience through a recording on YouTube.

At this year's Annual Dinner, WITA and the Foundation honored Congressman Adrian Smith with the Congressional Leadership Award and Senator Thomas Carper with the American Leadership Award. WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard, was honored with WITA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, after previously winning WITA’s prestigious Lighthouse Award.

WITA is excited to continue its service to the international trade community in Washington, DC and beyond! Visit wita.org to learn more about their programs.