Q&A With WTCA's Departing & Incoming BoD Members

• Ghazi Abu Nahl [GAN] (WTC Amman) / 2004-2025 / Chair 2008-2017
• Rolf Draak [RD] (WTC Nice) / 1992-2025 / Interim CEO 2014-2016
• Mehran Eftekhar [ME] (WTC Cyprus) / 2012-2025
• Haluk Kanca [HK] (WTC Istanbul) / 2010-2014, 2021-2025
• Simon Wang [SW] (WTC Taipei) / 2021-2025

• GAN: Looking ahead, I envision our global network becoming even more powerful and interconnected. The well-established connections and friendships nurtured within the WTCA platform provide a unique foundation for making our interactions and collaborations even stronger and more fruitful. We should move beyond simply linking our cities and WTC businesses to actively building stronger, long-lasting partnerships among ourselves. I see our network having an even stronger presence across all key regions, enabling WTC businesses to collaborate more effectively across borders. As we enter the new year, there is a strong sense of optimism that it will be an even better year for business, marked by renewed confidence, growth and collaboration. We look ahead with the hope that stability and dialogue will prevail, creating a more peaceful global environment with fewer conflicts and disruptions. Such conditions will allow our Association to focus on innovation, partnerships and long-term value creation rather than uncertainty. With improved cooperation, advancing technology and a shared commitment to progress, the year ahead offers meaningful opportunities for our WTC businesses and global WTCA network to thrive together. I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt sentiments as it has been a true honor to have served as Chairman, Chairman Emeritus, and Director of the WTCA Board. For me and my team, "WTC" is more than just a brand; it is an integral part of our family. This deep connection has driven our continued investment and acquisition of multiple WTC licenses. Together with my team, we remain unwaveringly committed to supporting the Association with the same devotion and enthusiasm that have guided us throughout the years. Having had the privilege of working closely with the Association’s founder, Guy Tozzoli, and his team, I have believed in this vision from day one, and that belief continues to inspire me today. I wish the new and continuing Board Members great success in carrying forward our shared mission of growing and strengthening our beloved brand.

• ME: Looking ahead to 2026, I see the global WTCA network entering a phase of consolidation rather than expansion for its own sake. The emphasis will increasingly be on quality of engagement, commercial relevance and measurable value to Members, rather than the sheer number of locations or events. During my tenure, the most consistent lesson was that the WTC brand remains powerful, but only where it is actively stewarded. Centers that invested in real estate, member services and real trade facilitation thrived; those that treated the license as symbolic struggled. There has to be a real effort to make the dormant WTC businesses active again. I expect three developments in particular. First, a clearer distinction between high-performing, commercially active WTC businesses and those requiring restructuring or intervention. Second, greater pressure from Members for tangible outcomes — deal flow, trusted connections and credible advocacy — rather than just meetings. Third, a gradual generational shift in leadership, bringing digital expectations, but also requiring reinforcement of the Association’s original mission: practical trade promotion grounded in trust. My experience on the Board confirmed that WTCA works best when it stays disciplined, apolitical and focused on execution of its core functions. In 2026, if the network holds on firmly to those fundamentals, it will remain relevant. If it drifts toward form over substance, the market will correct it regardless of intentions.  

• HK: Looking ahead to 2026, I foresee the WTCA network continuing to expand as a truly global platform connecting cities, markets and opportunities. Following the addition of 17 new cities in 2025, the growing diversity of markets, experiences and cultures will further strengthen collaboration and innovation across the network. I hope to see this momentum accelerate in 2026, with even more cities joining and actively engaging in the WTCA ecosystem. WTC businesses will increasingly serve not only as physical trade hubs, but as strategic connectors of knowledge, talent and global business communities. The WTCA network’s ability to provide fast access to reliable information and meaningful connections will be even more critical in an increasingly complex global trade environment. Based on my experience as a Board Member, this strong network structure has proven essential in fostering sustainable partnerships between cities and institutions. In 2026, I believe WTCA will continue to enhance its impact by leveraging digitalization and deepening global collaboration.  

• SW: Looking toward 2026, I see the global WTCA network entering a stage defined by depth rather than scale — where long-term trust, shared experience and practical collaboration matter more than ever. During my time as a Board Member, I have seen WTCA evolve into a community that offers not only connections, but also reassurance in times of change. Serving alongside such a dedicated and visionary group of global leaders has been one of the great honors of my professional journey. I have valued the collaboration, dialogue and shared ambition that define our WTCA community, and the unity and friendship built along the way have left a lasting impression on me. From the perspective of WTC Taipei, companies today value reliable partners and shared understanding above all else. What stands out is the steady professionalism and genuine care across this network. As my chapter draws to a close, I am reassured by that strength. The WTCA family is in good hands — guided by leaders and partners who will continue to look after one another, just as we always have.  

Our Interviewees - Incoming Directors:

• Carles Anglada [CA] (WTC Barcelona)
• Hassan El Kojok [HEK] (WTC Riyadh)
• Antony Georgakis [AG] (WTC Cyprus)
• Mingxing Li [ML] (WTC Haikou)
• Patricia Moinard [PM] (WTC Metz-Saarbrücken)

Question: What do you foresee for the global WTCA network in 2026 and what are you most excited about in your new role as a Board Member? 

• CA: The world is experiencing a new geopolitical order which certainly will impact worldwide organizations like ours. World trade and cross-border agreements will be needed now more than ever, and WTCA can play a crucial role in that. Being Board Members gives us the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective, while strategically piloting the Association. The Board must help WTCA find the right strategy in the 5- or 10- years on the horizon.  

• HEK: In 2026, I see the global WTCA network evolving from a traditional connectivity platform into a more agile, impact-driven ecosystem — one that actively enables trade, investment and collaboration across regions that are navigating rapid economic and geopolitical change. As businesses seek trusted gateways into new markets, WTCA’s role as a connector of cities, people and opportunities will become even more relevant, particularly in emerging and fast-transforming economies. As a new Board Member, I am especially excited to contribute perspectives from Saudi Arabia, where economic transformation and global engagement are accelerating at an unprecedented pace. I look forward to working closely with fellow Board Members to strengthen collaboration across the network, share practical insights and ensure WTCA continues to deliver meaningful, real-world value to its Members. It is a privilege to be part of a community that connects not just markets, but also people. I believe that WTCA is not just connecting business, but also reshaping it with its global presence and value proposition.  

• AG: For 2026, I would like to foresee our global network to be even more interconnected, and even more action driven. We should all go beyond simply linking our cities and WTC businesses to actively building longer lasting partnerships between us. Our network should have an even stronger presence across all key regions, enabling all WTC businesses to collaborate more effectively across borders. It would be great in 2026 to utilize even more technology as it plays a key and central role in the way we do business today, and we must continue to embrace it more fully to further strengthen our Association. By doing so, we will enable even better communication, enhanced knowledge exchange, and more effective joint initiatives — regardless of geographical boundaries. So with this new year, lets all work to help our global network, which we are all so proud to be part of, function even more as the trusted bridge between countries — facilitating dialogue, cooperation and sustainable international growth. 2026 will be both a challenging and exciting year for me, as it will mark my first year serving on the WTCA Board of Directors. It is a true honor to be given the opportunity to take on this important milestone and I am fully committed to doing my very best to fulfill the role.  

• ML: The new international trade model is rapidly changing the global trade landscape. For instance, cross-border e-commerce is booming and leading platforms are emerging, and they are showing a rapid development trend — threatening to engulf traditional institutions that are lagging behind. Facing such global trade transformation, as a WTCA Board Member, I have a strong sense of crisis and great sense of responsibility. In 2026, we need to earnestly develop specific implementation plans for the “Road to 500" initiative, in order to quickly achieve a rapid expansion in the number of Members and steady improvement in quality of Members.  

• PM: The future of WTCA is full of promise — and 2026 will be a defining year for our global network. I foresee stronger connections, bold collaborations and innovative solutions that make international trade more accessible than ever. We will harness digital tools to accelerate partnerships and embrace ESG principles to drive sustainable growth. New markets are full of potential, and by working together, we can turn every challenge into a win. As a new Board Member, and also a member of the Digital Steering Committee, I am most excited about shaping strategies and tools that empower every WTC business to thrive. I look forward to amplifying Members' voices, fostering practical solutions, and unlocking new pathways for global business. The upcoming WTCA Global Business Forum in Philadelphia will be a perfect stage to showcase this momentum and spark transformative ideas. On a personal note, I am thrilled to contribute my experience and passion to help build bridges between regions, industries and people — because when WTCA grows, we all grow.