World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD), the international affiliate of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the regional leader on trade and investment, cultivates a pipeline of export-ready firms, maximizes foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities, and enhances San Diego’s global identity. In WTCSD’s 2024 Annual Report, see how we helped San Diego companies participate in a globally connected economy to create quality local jobs, and make the San Diego region more prosperous, competitive, and resilient.
WTCSD’S CORE PILLARS
- Exports: Supporting exporters creates quality jobs and builds resiliency in small businesses. WTCSD grows regional exports by facilitating sustainable connections to customers and markets for local firms.
- Investment: Foreign investment strengthens competitive industry clusters and enables the expansion of local companies. WTCSD assists investing companies and supports international air service expansion.
- Global Identity: A strong global reputation for innovation makes the region more competitive and connected. WTCSD communicates the impact of global trends on the regional economy and stewards relationships with the markets that matter most for growth.
Exports
Priority: As the region’s Export Specialty Small Business Development Center (SBDC), WTCSD cultivates a pipeline of export-ready firms, and supports these companies in their efforts to grow in international markets.
WTCSD kicked off its seventh MetroConnect cohort, awarding 15 San Diego companies in tech, life sciences, and consumer goods $175,000 in grants and equipping them with translation software and workshops to access international markets.
Export SBDC at WTCSD supported 120 companies via one-on-one counseling and webinars, including helping San Diego companies win $39,476 in STEP funding for export activities.
Investment
Priority: Maximize foreign investment opportunities for the region by building and institutionalizing linkages with strategic markets abroad, as well as better leveraging local companies, partners, and assets.
Following WTCSD’s 2022 Netherlands trade mission, San Diego International Airport and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced a new direct flight between San Diego and Amsterdam, with thrice-weekly service starting May 2025.
WTCSD capitalized on the influx of foreign life sciences companies visiting San Diego during the 2024 BIO Convention by hosting an Invest in San Diego breakfast, with more than 100 global attendees heard remarks from Mayor Todd Gloria, WTCSD’s Executive Director Nikia Clarke, and leaders from Neurocrine, Avidity, Eli Lilly, and Element Biosciences.
Global Identity
Priority: Enhance the San Diego region’s reputation and visibility to underpin investment retention and attraction efforts, as well as global connectivity goals.
Representative Scott Peters, Councilmember Raul Campillo, and WTCSD led 2024’s trade mission to Singapore. The binational delegation of business and civic leaders promoted San Diego’s key industries, established and strengthened business relationships across biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, and urban infrastructure.
Following WTCSD’s 2023 trade mission to South Korea, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong-yeon Kim visited San Diego as part of a weeklong tour of California, where he toured UC San Diego, Illumina, Biocom, and threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game. WTCSD supported the Korean government’s efforts to arrange a meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
READ THE FULL WTCSD 2024 ANNUAL REPORT →
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