For Immediate Release
March 21, 2001

Oakland - The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted unanimously at its meeting yesterday to approve funding in the amount of $100,000 to the Bay Area World Trade Center, formally known as the Greater Oakland International Trade Center. Since the trade organization was founded in 1994, the Port of Oakland has partnered with the Bay Area World Trade Center to promote and support regional economic growth through international trade and commerce. "This funding," said David Kramer, the President of the Board of Port Commissioners, "will provide the Bay Area World Trade Center with a means to continue a variety of trade development and promotion programs including educational seminars and trade services for small and medium-sized businesses in the region.

Port Commissioner Pete Uribe recommended that the Port of Oakland work closely with the Bay Area World Trade Center to take advantage of its global networks. The Bay Area World Trade Center is a full-fledged member of the World Trade Center Association (WTCA) network. This affiliation with the WTCA enables businesses to access the Bay Area World Trade Center's network of more than 300 world trade centers in about 100 cities with approximately 500,000 members around the world and to promote the Port of Oakland on a global scale.

Until such time as a physical World Trade Center is constructed, Port Commissioner Phil Tagami recommended that the Port of Oakland consider the possibility of assisting the Bay Area World Trade Center with identifying a location for a World Trade Club, located somewhere near the Port of Oakland.

The Bay Area World Trade Center's accomplishments include more than 600 export actions resulting in a $125 million value for its members since 1994. Further, in response to requests by foreign business entities, the Bay Area World Trade Center has assisted at least 1,835 business visitors and 159 diplomatic delegations from over 46 countries around the globe providing significant benefits to its members. In addition, the Bay Area World Trade Center has forged 24 trade partnership agreements with overseas commerce groups and governments establishing direct links to opportunities, assistance, and valuable contacts abroad.

During the spring of 2000, the Greater Oakland International Trade Center merged with the Bay Area World Trade Center (BAWTC) in order to serve the greater San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area, one of the most powerful regional economies in the world. Headquartered in Oakland, the newly merged trade organization operates under the name "Bay Area World Trade Center." The BAWTC is located in the Port of Oakland building at 530 Water Street. The Port of Oakland is the fourth largest Port in the United States.

Contact:
Harold Jones
Communications Director
(510) 627-1564
hjones@portoakland.com

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