Q&A WITH WTCA's NEWEST MEMBERS - Nov/Dec 2025

The WTCA Editorial Team sat down with a few of WTCA’s newest Members to learn more about their plans for their WTC licenses and how they envision bringing new opportunities to the global WTCA network.

Our interviewees:

• Emily García, Director, WTC Durango (joined July 2025)
• Fernando García, Director of Operations, WTC Santiago Free Trade Zone (joined March 2025)

What is your vision for your WTC business and why did you decide to obtain a WTC license? 

Ms. Emily García (WTC Durango): My vision is to make WTC Durango a bridge between local innovation and global opportunity. Durango has extraordinary potential, a strategic location, creative entrepreneurs and a growing spirit of collaboration. Obtaining the WTC license was a natural step for us after years of building a solid business ecosystem. We wanted to connect our local network with a global brand that stands for trust, excellence, and international connectivity. The WTCA platform gives Durango the visibility and partnerships needed to expand beyond borders.

Mr. Fernando García (WTC Santiago Free Trade Zone): Our vision is to position WTC Santiago Free Trade Zone (WTC Santiago) as the gateway for global business, innovation and investment in the Caribbean Basin, and as the region’s leading platform for sustainable industrial development. Anchored in the industrial, technological and service ecosystem led by Corporación Zona Franca de Santiago (CZFS), WTC Santiago seeks to elevate the region’s competitiveness, attract international investors and connect local industries to global value chains. 

Obtaining the WTC license was a strategic decision to align our long-term transformation agenda — from a regional industrial park to a world-class business city — with the credibility and connectivity of the global WTCA network. Through this integration, we aim to strengthen our capacity to attract partners, investors and talent, while showcasing the Dominican Republic as a competitive, sustainable, and innovation-driven economy. 

What are you looking forward to most about joining this global network?

Ms. Emily García (WTC Durango): I’m most excited about collaboration and knowledge exchange. Being part of the WTCA network means learning from leaders around the world and sharing our own experiences as an emerging economic region in northern Mexico. I look forward to creating joint projects, trade missions and innovation programs that open doors for our entrepreneurs while showcasing Durango’s capabilities on a global stage.  

Mr. Fernando García (WTC Santiago Free Trade Zone): We look forward to joining a community that shares our belief in trade as a driver for peace and shared prosperity. Through the WTCA network, we aim to facilitate B2B and B2G connections between our tenant companies and global markets, participate in international trade missions and investment forums, and contribute to knowledge exchange and capacity building across regions. This partnership will amplify our global reach and strengthen Santiago’s position as an emerging global city for sustainable production, logistics and innovation.

How will our global WTCA community benefit from your local business network?

Mr. Fernando García (WTC Santiago Free Trade Zone): The global WTCA community stands to gain from a dynamic force in the Caribbean — WTC Santiago, where local excellence evolves into global opportunity. Rooted in a six-decade legacy of industrial innovation led by CZFS, our ecosystem demonstrates how knowledge, talent, and sustainability can converge to create enduring competitiveness.

As a strategic nearshoring hub in the Americas, WTC Santiago connects North America, Latin America and Europe — offering global partners access to agile supply chains, skilled human capital and investment-ready infrastructure. Beyond commerce, we contribute insights, innovation frameworks and collaborative models that advance WTCA’s mission — championing responsible trade, green manufacturing and inclusive prosperity across borders.

How will the WTC brand benefit your local community?

Ms. Emily García (WTC Durango): The WTC brand brings credibility, visibility and opportunity. It positions Durango as an international destination for business, investment, and innovation. For local companies, it means access to training, certifications, global contacts, and market intelligence that can accelerate their growth. For the community, it represents new jobs, stronger industries and a more diversified economy.

Interested in connecting with one of our interviewees? Contact WTCA at info@wtca.org for assistance.