Member Article

Humber centre aims to attract World conference

The not-for-profit World Trade Centre Hull & Humber has launched a new development plan which aims to build international links.

Home to a number of organisations, including the Humber LEP, the Centre is bidding to hold the World Trade Centers Association General Assembly in 2015 or 2016.

The event would attract up to 500 delegates from 80 countries, and has previously been held in Mumbai and Sao Paolo.

Central to the Centre’s plan is the target to develop a hub for business by attracting more key organisations.

Elsewhere there are ambitions to assist the region’s businesses in international trade; support the development of the renewables sector; develop digital content businesses through the Platform Initiative; and create a World Trade Centre hub in Lincolnshire.

Rob Penrose, a WTC director and managing partner of Andrew Jackson, said that the centre was uniquely placed to help the Humber region reach its goals.

He added: “We operate independently but in partnership with key public and private sector organisations operating at the centre. Having seen how effective this close working is, we want to take it to the next level so that we can play a key role in the Humber’s future economic prosperity.

“By becoming a comprehensive business hub, we would massively simplify the sourcing of information for companies with an interest in the region, encourage greater collaboration and demonstrate a united approach.

“It will also give us the tools to help increase the Humber’s international profile through the World Trade Centers Association network.”

Peter Brown, CEO of Neill & Brown Global Logistics and a World Trade Centre director, said: “We have an amazing ports complex, great companies and great education. We want to play our part in creating international recognition that UK opportunities are not just around London. This plan pulls together the areas where we feel we can really make a difference.”

The development plan has been written with the two other directors of World Trade Centre Hull & Humber, Carolyn Burgess and Lindsay West, and has been agreed by the 10 official partners including: HSBC, Henderson Insurance Brokers, KC, Mapa PR, Smailes Goldie, Select Group, Andrew Jackson, Garthwest, Language is Everything and Neill & Brown Global Logistics.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .