Our Story

Cultivating export-ready firms, maximizing foreign direct investment, and enhancing San Diego’s global connectivity.

Founded in 1994 and relaunched as the international team within San Diego Regional EDC in 2014, World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) is committed to helping San Diego companies with their international growth efforts and attracting international investment. WTCSD cultivates a pipeline of export-ready firms, maximizes foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities, and enhances San Diego’s connectivity to the markets that matter most.

Meet our partners, learn our story, and explore opportunities to get involved with San Diego’s international business community.

Founding Partners

The City of San Diego

San Diego International Airport

Port of San Diego

JOIN THE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL (GCC)

GCC is a group of business, academic, government, and civic partners who oversee WTCSD and implementation of the region’s overarching trade and investment strategy. GCC advises on WTCSD programming, generating public support, financial resources, and coordination mechanisms for the broader strategy, as well as periodic trade issues and investment policy recommendations on behalf of the region. Meetings are held quarterly, with dates and details posted to our events page here.

Co-Chairs: Kim Becker, San Diego Regional Airport Authority, and Monique Rodriguez, Qualcomm

To get involved, contact Sophia Antonopoulos.

 

OUR STORY

1994

World Trade Center San Diego is founded by Port of San Diego, San Diego International Airport, and City of San Diego

2013

WTCSD - along with 30 regional partners - partners with the Brookings Institution to launch the "Go Global SD Export Plan"

2014

WTCSD remains strong under the leadership at San Diego State University

2015

EDC welcomes WTCSD as an official affiliate of the organization and launches 'Go Global San Diego,' an updated trade and investment plan in conjunction with the Brookings Institution; through the new relationship, WTCSD and EDC share offices and resources to help maximize efforts to make the region more competitive for businesses

2015

WTCSD launches the Global Competitiveness Council, a group of San Diego senior-level business, academic, and government partners that oversee WTC's program of work

2017

WTCSD brings Mayor Faulconer on his first official trade mission as Mayor to Vancouver, Canada

2017

WTCSD leads Congressman Scott Peters and 30 other delegates on a trade mission to the U.K.

2018

WTCSD leads Congressman Scott Peters and 30 other delegates on a trade mission to Tokyo

2019

WTCSD leads fourth major trade mission to Frankfurt and Munich, Germany

2020

WTCSD launches Export Specialty Center to cultivate a pipeline of export-ready firms

2021

WTCSD, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy at UC San Diego, and founding partners launch updated global engagement strategy: "Go Global 2025"

2022

WTCSD resumes international travel post-pandemic with trade mission to the Netherlands alongside Mayor Todd Gloria and 30 other delegates

June 2023

WTCSD receives the President's “E” Award for Export Service for assisting and facilitating export activities, the highest recognition a U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports

October 2023

WTCSD strengthens economic ties in Asia with trade mission to South Korea, alongside Mayor Todd Gloria, Supervisor Nora Vargas, and 30+ binational delegates

2024

WTCSD strengthens economic ties in Southeast Asia with trade mission to Singapore, alongside Representative Scott Peters, Councilmember Raul Campillo, and 40 binational delegates.