WTCA CEO Visits WTC Mumbai

MUMBAI, INDIA - In his first-ever visit to India since becoming Chief Executive Officer of World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), Mr. Scott Ferguson addressed the board members of the World Trade Centre (WTC) Mumbai a meeting on August 1, 2016. He said, “India is moving ahead in a measured way with definite policies and plans rather than populist approach that often fails on delivery.” Mr Ferguson was on two-day visit to Mumbai. From Mumbai, he travels to Bangalore and then to Delhi.

Praising the Indian government’s projects like Make in India, Start up India, Mr. Ferguson said that WTC network can have a role to play in this. “I believe the WTC Mumbai has many programs in this segment, which the start- ups will take advantage of”, he added.

WTCA is considering India as a growing market and in this visit, Mr. Ferguson is meeting all members to understand the functioning and programmes.

Mr Scott Wang, Vice-President, Asia Pacific, WTCA said that India is the fastest growing market for World Trade Centres as WTCs in India have risen from a mere 5 in 2011 to 26 in 2016. “There is change in FDI facilitation in India now; the Make in India campaign has had a huge impact. It is time that WTC Mumbai leverages its service capacities that will make the other WTCs in India grow.”

Calling Mr Ferguson an experienced hand in running WTCA, Mr Vijay Kalantri, Vice-Chairman, WTC Mumbai informed that WTC Mumbai is playing a leadership role among the 20 WTCs in India. “We have now agreed to meet once in three months and work together. I feel as one of the oldest WTCs in the world, WTC Mumbai can play a bigger role in the membership seminars, we receive around 60 trade missions annually and our experience can be shared,” said Mr Kalantri.

M. Visvesvaraya Industrial Research and Development Centre is the promoter of WTC Mumbai and also WTCs in Goa, Bhubaneshwar and Jaipur. Mr Sharad Upasani, Chairman, WTC Goa and Capt. Somesh Batra, Chairman, WTC Bhubaneswar also interacted with Mr. Ferguson. “As fastest growing economy in the world, it would be great if India gets a bigger role in the WTCA General Assembly,” suggested Capt Batra.

At an evening reception held in Mr. Ferguson’s honour, Mr. Kamal Morarka, Chairman World Trade Centre Mumbai who was all praise for Mr. Ferguson expressed confidence in his leadership. Mr. Morarka said, “With his rich experience and dynamism, WTCA will further expand its network and grow to newer heights. A well defined framework will benefit the members setting effective organizational goals with economic realities”. WTCA should promote and project India as a land of opportunities both for investment and trade, he added.

PHOTO (L-R): Mr Scott Wang, Vice-President, Asia Pacific, WTCA, Mr. Kamal Morarka, Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai and Mr. Scott Ferguson, CEO, WTCA.

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