seda annual report 2023
seda annual report 2023
For more than 10 years, World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) has evolved to meet the needs of our partners and Coastal Georgia but our mission still stands true:
2023 was an exceptionally exciting year for World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) with productive visits to and from our partners in Ireland, a first-for-everyone business delegation to Africa and record numbers for Global Education Programs and trade service requests.
As always, the bottom line remained the same: to forward its mission of creating jobs and attracting investment by helping to facilitate foreign direct investment opportunities for the Southeast Georgia region.
World Trade Center Savannah made history in April by organizing its first trade mission to Accra, Ghana, one of WTCSav’s six target countries located in the Sub-Saharan region. World Trade Centers Association’s 53rd General Assembly was the primary reason for the trip, and WTCSav led the second-largest delegation in attendance, consisting of representatives from business, local and state government, history and culture as well as WTCSav staff and a former WTCSav intern. More than 300 leaders from over 40 countries were present at the event.
While in Ghana, various teams from the delegation had the opportunity to meet with the Vice President of Ghana, the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretary-General, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana’s executive team, the American Chamber of Commerce-Ghana, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and several other government and business agencies. The conversations didn’t stop when the team arrived back home – lasting partnerships and business relationships were formed while in Ghana.
2023 was a year full of TradeBridge, which aims to create new trade opportunities between Southeast Ireland and Southeast Georgia and shepherd partnerships with and around businesses in Southeast Ireland. The festivities began in March when WTCSav welcomed three delegations from Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah. Thirty delegates from Limerick City and County Council, Wexford County Council, Wexford Enterprise Association, the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta and the government of Ireland represented by Irish Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien. The week wasn’t all play – it also included visits to the Georgia Ports Authority, Savannah Technical College, long-time partner Georgia Southern University and a visit to City Hall to discuss affordable housing with Mayor Van Johnson.
Only two months later, WTCSav led a delegation focused on economic development, tourism and civic engagement to Ireland. The group included representatives from the Savannah Economic Development Authority, The Pendleton Group, Georgia Southern University, Visit Savannah and Savannah’s civic offices, including Mayor Van Johnson.
Savannah was once again the hostess city when the team welcomed five Irish companies to explore trade opportunities in the region. Businesses visiting from Ireland came from a wide range of industries including virtual reality, lighting, spirits, distillation, software as a service and wood paneling. World Trade Center Savannah secured more than 40 business meetings throughout Georgia and conversations remain ongoing to further business opportunities.
Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason, also visited the region at the invitation of Georgia Southern University where she met with Mayor Van Johnson and WTCSav President and CEO Trip Tollison to discuss the TradeBridge initiative and other economic opportunities in the Savannah region.
Ireland wasn’t the only country on the radar, however, the WTCSav team welcomed guests from all around the globe including visitors from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Israel, Japan, Liberia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. The team also had the pleasure of welcoming the Austrian Trade Commissioner for the USA, Dr. Peter Hasslacher, and business representatives from Advantage Austria for their inaugural visit to Savannah.
Trade service requests increased by 48% resulting in a total of 123 requests and 479 trade service hours completed for partners in 2023. Requests remained diverse and included connecting a company based in the Netherlands specializing in modular ATV’s with a Georgia-based company and connecting a local company with World Trade Center Goa and World Trade Center Mumbai in India to facilitate trade.
Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 104, which WTCSav is the grantee of, supported 24 companies operating within FTZ 104 in 2023. The FTZ program expedites and encourages foreign commerce by lowering the costs of U.S.-based operations engaged in international trade thus providing a secure, efficient and profitable way to compete effectively in domestic and global markets.
World Trade Center Savannah hosted 19 Global Education Programs and events with a total of 1,599 participants. A program series of particular success was titled “Planning for New South Korean Neighbors” and featured guest speaker Jeanne Charbonneau, who served for 17 years as the primary point-of-contact for South Korean families in Montgomery, Alabama. More than 700 attendees over the course of three days and in four counties learned how to communicate effectively with their South Korean business partners. Another notable program was titled “Vietnam: Gateway to Southeast Georgia” which was interwoven with an inbound delegation from Vietnam and provided southeast Georgia companies with key information and contacts to enter the Vietnamese market.
2023 was without a doubt a record year. From increased participation in Global Education Programs to record-breaking numbers for trade service requests and hours, and revenue numbers exceeding projections, the WTCSav team surely accomplished its mission day in and day out and brought significant value to their diverse array of 67 partners in 16 counties across Southeast Georgia.
“Georgia Ports Authority is the number one exports port in the nation and International Paper has been a big part of that success,”
– Cliff Pyron, Georgia Ports Authority Chief Commercial Officer
In May, World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) announced that International Paper was the recipient of the 2023 World Trade Center Savannah International Business of the Year award.
The award was given during the fourth annual Prosperity Through Trade Luncheon that featured former 1st Chief Market Intelligence Officer Andrew Busch as the keynote speaker.
International Paper is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based products. The company employs approximately 38,000 individuals globally and more than 1,000 in the Savannah area with a net sales of $21.2 billion in 2022. The award was presented by Georgia Southern University’s President Dr. Kyle Marrero.
“Georgia Ports Authority is the number one exports port in the nation and International Paper has been a big part of that success,” said Georgia Ports Authority Chief Commercial Officer Cliff Pyron. “What Georgia Ports Authority and ocean carriers love specifically about International Paper is the consistency of the company’s volumes.”
Given annually, the World Trade Center Savannah International Business of the Year award recognizes companies that excel in international trade and acknowledges the importance of trade to the region’s economy. This year’s award was sponsored by Georgia Southern University.
