World Cities Alliance Announces Partnerships with Strategic Network of Regions; Promote Int'l Commerce, Economic Development 6/24/2003
From: Adam Wasserman, 703-228-0820; e-mail: awasserman@worldcitiesalliance.com Kelly Rindfusz, 703-228-8090; e-mail: krindfusz@worldcitiesalliance.com both of the World Cities Alliance WASHINGTON, June 24 -- The World Cities Alliance (WCA) launches the first-ever fully integrated worldwide economic development organization with the formal signing of a Declaration of Partnership on June 26, 2003 in the First Amendment Room of the National Press Club, located at 529 14th Street, NW, Washington D.C. at 12:00 p.m. A presentation on the WCA will follow. At the launch, Alliance partners representing five international regions will be announced: Berlin, Germany; Cardiff, Wales; Val D'Oise-Paris region, France; Washington, D.C. region, U.S.A.; and Zurich, Switzerland. The WCA is an international joint venture created to perform next-generation economic development in locations throughout the world. The joint venture is organized as a formal and stand-alone, non-profit business entity and represents the collaboration between a network of regions and corporations. The WCA is specifically designed to establish a structured economic system between powerful business centers in strategic markets around the world. The WCA's world-wide economic system is focused on providing investment services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The WCA network provides for a unique, one-stop competence for foreign investment and trade in a wide range of investment settings. A team of dedicated Consultant Staff stationed in each market supports the WCA. Consultant Staff will assist business clients with their in-market expertise regarding location advice, infrastructure, workforce, market review, government liaison, financing and partner matching. Plans for the WCA include the creation of a Web portal that will be the first inter-market business to business instrument. This specialized Web platform will allow SMEs to learn about business opportunities, WCA regions, and review pertinent news and information about their industry cluster. In the near future the WCA plans to expand its operations into other markets in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Those markets will be selected on the basis of industry make-up, education and research centers, economic development capacity, transport access and international business concentrations. A number of other regions have asked for consideration as partners in the WCA. At the WCA Launch Event, on June 26, 2003, elected officials and other official representatives from WCA partner regions will attend the event, including: -- Russell Goodway, Lord Mayor, Cardiff County Council, Wales -- Yanick Paternotte, First Vice President -Val D'Oise County Council, Mayor of Sannois, France -- Paul Ferguson, Chairman, Arlington County Board, Virginia -- Harold Brazil, City Councilman, At-large, Washington, D.C. -- William Bogard, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Virginia -- Byron Davies, Chief Executive, Cardiff County Council, Wales -- Willi Meier, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland -- Dr. Klara Sekanina, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland In the Washington D.C. region, the WCA is represented by the Greater Washington Initiative/Board of Trade; Arlington County, Virginia; Loudoun County, Virginia; Montgomery County, Maryland; Howard County, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Press kits containing additional information about the WCA, its business plan, attendees contact lists and two days of meetings and events will be distributed at the signing event. Press kits are also available by contacting Sindy Yeh at (703) 228-0858 or via e-mail at syeh@worldcitiesalliance.com |