World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast on May 4

by Gary Toebben

There are no arguments in Los Angeles about the importance of international trade to our economy. On May 4, the Chamber will celebrate the 91st Annual World Trade Week (WTW) Kickoff breakfast in L.A. More than 800 manufacturers, service providers, business and civic leaders, educators, students and foreign diplomats will come together to celebrate the benefits of global trade.

World Trade Week was conceived by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in 1927. In 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially proclaimed WTW as a national observance by the United States.

The Chamber, together with WTW founding members, the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles World Airports have been, for all these years, carrying the torch of creating regional employment through global trade and investment. Today's $400 billion commercial exchange between the L.A. region and the world is a testimony to our ports and airports and our regional entrepreneurs in goods movement, professional services, manufacturing and distribution. In Southern California, WTW continues for the entire month of May with celebrations, events and conferences focusing on international trade and business opportunities in countries around the world.

This year's WTW keynote speaker is Jack Dangermond, co-founder and president of ESRI, the world's leader company in geographic information systems (GIS). ESRI dominates the industry, with more than 40 percent of global GIS market share, $1 billion in annual revenues and 350,000 worldwide customers.

Ambassador Vilma Martinez, president of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, will be awarded the prestigious Stanley T. Olafson award for her outstanding contributions to the international business community throughout a long and successful career. Regional exporters and service providers such as UltraGlass Inc., Cosmobeauty Lab., Borla Performance Industries Inc., and the Port of Los Angeles' Trade Connect program will be recognized for growing our economy through international trade.

WTW also focuses on the future as we recognize 16 high school and university students who are pursuing careers in global trade and investment. These future business leaders will receive scholarships thanks to the generosity of WTW sponsors.

Growing jobs through international trade has been a goal of the Chamber since we were founded in 1888. Join us on May 4 to celebrate L.A.'s leadership in international trade and learn how your business can benefit as well.      

And that's The Business Perspective.