2024 WTCA APRM Successfully Held By WTC Haikou
The 2024 WTCA Asia Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) was successfully hosted by World Trade Center (WTC) Haikou in s outh ern China' s Hainan Island from August 25-27. T he hybrid meeting gathered 180+ delegates from the WTC Asia Pacific (APAC) region and the local Hainan business community, including over 80 WTC delegates representing 5 5 WTC businesses in this region .
T hemed “ Connect Globally, Prosper Free Trade Port , ” the 2024 APRM provided a great platform for WTCA Members across the APAC region to network with each other ; share best practices with fellow Members through panel discussions on exhibition/events, trade services and facility/real estate, which featured executives from nine WTC operations in the region; and learn valuable updates from the APAC Regional Advisory Council (RAC) , WTCA Headquarters and Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) . The 2024 APRM promoted the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) through an informative keynote address and panel discussions. The Hainan FTP will launch independent customs operation s at the end of 2025 , becoming the largest FTP in the world. In addition, panel discussion s were held on globalization , with shared insights from leading experts on the challenges and solutions for Chinese companies to expand overseas, especially throughout the Southeast Asia region . A ttendees were also invited to join the 2025 APRM , which will be be hosted by WTC Mumbai.
Th e APRM wa s followed by an optional one-day business tour to Sanya arranged by WTC Sanya , where several attendees met with local government officials and business communities to explore the cooperation between the global WTC A network and Sanya CBD.
“ Our WTCA network is built on the principle that by connecting globally, we empower local communities. Haikou’s vision for a thriving F ree T rade P ort exemplifies this approach — creating an environment where businesses of all sizes can innovate, expand, and thrive , ” said Crystal Edn, WTCA Executive Director-Member Services in her opening remarks during the APRM . “ As we continue to build on our partnership with Haikou and the Hainan Free Trade Port, I am confident that we will see remarkable achievements. ”
“We would like to congratulate the WTC Haikou team for the remarkable success in organizing the 2024 APRM under the leadership of Dr. Mingxing Li, Chairman of WTC Haikou and member of the WTCA APAC RAC , and Ms. Xiaolan Zhu, its Chief Representative. The timing was perfect as it added momentum to the efforts of the whole Hainan region to prepare for the launch of its independent customs operation s by the end of 2025. We look forward to working closely with the WTC Haikou and WTC Sanya teams to demonstrate the added-value of the WTC A ecosystem to the development of the Hainan FTP , ” said Scott Wang, WTCA Vice President, Asia Pacific.
