World Trade Center Kentucky

10/14/2026

Why Dubai?
Dubai is more than a city; it's a global crossroads offering:
Massive Market Access: A low-tariff, business-friendly gateway to a market of billions.
Economic Diversification: High-growth opportunities in technology, logistics, finance, manufacturing, and more.
World-Class Infrastructure: Seamless connectivity and advanced support for international trade.

Register today! https://business.wtcky.org/events/details/dubai-trade-mission-2026-973

10/13/2026

🇨🇦 ✈️ 🇺🇸 $8 Billion in Exports, Deep Supply Chains, and the Future of U.S.-Canada Trade!
"At the end of the day, we will always be each other's biggest customer."
In this live episode of This Global Trade Adventure, recorded at the recent WTCKY World Trade Day event, hosts Steve Marks (WTCKY Chair / Givaudan Sense Colour) and Parashar Joshi (CEO of JIO) sit down with one of North America's most prominent statesmen, Jean Charest.

Jean Charest brings a distinguished 30-year political career, having served as Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Premier of Québec for nearly a decade, and currently serving on Prime Minister Carney's Advisory Council on Canada-U.S. Relations.

Did you know that Kentucky exports over $8 billion in products to Canada every year, maintaining a $4 billion trade surplus? Beyond direct sales, our economies are deeply intertwined—70% of Canadian exports to the U.S. consist of raw materials or components, and 25% of those goods actually originate right here in the U.S. before being re-exported!

In this episode, Charest shares crucial insights for Kentucky leaders, including:
• 🛡️ Defense Spending Expansion: Canada’s massive new defense investments and what they mean for U.S. suppliers.
• ⛏️ Critical Minerals: Securing North American supply chains outside of China.
• 🥃 Kentucky Bourbon: Why trade leaders are working to restore Kentucky spirits to Canadian shelves.
• 🇨🇦 Cross-Border Support: How the Canadian Consulate in Detroit and provincial resources help Kentucky firms scale into Canada.

🎧 Never miss an insight on global commerce! Follow our podcast journey:
🟢 Spotify
🎥 YouTube
🌐 Listen on our website: www.WTCKY.org/podcast

10/13/2026

Honored to be Recognized for Global Impact in Kentucky! 🏆

We are proud to announce that the World Trade Center Kentucky has been named the recipient of the 2026 Community Partner Global Impact Award by the University of Kentucky International Center!

Since 1989, WTC-KY has served as Kentucky's leading resource for trade advisory services, export/import management, trade missions, and international education.
We are especially proud of our deep, ongoing partnership with UK supporting international business education through our International Trade Certification Program, student scholarships at the Gatton College of Business and Economics and the Patterson School of Diplomacy, applied learning opportunities, and our signature Global Executive Forums.

Congratulations to all of this year's award recipients who continue to expand Kentucky’s global reach! We look forward to celebrating together at the official campus event on October 28.

Learn more about the 2026 UK Global Impact Awards: Full article available through this link.

https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-international-center-announces-2026-global-impact-award-winners

The International Center at the University of Kentucky, housed within the Office for Student Success, has announced the 2026 UK Global Impact Award winners.

10/07/2026

World Trade Center Kentucky Foundation, Inc. (operating publicly as World Trade Center Kentucky, “WTCKY”) seeks proposals from qualified vendors for a consultant to support federal compliance, reporting, and financial documentation for its ARC-funded Global Ready Youth: Trade, Talent & Opportunity Pipeline program, which serves students in Pike, Floyd, Perry, Pulaski, and Laurel Counties. The award’s approved project start date is September 1, 2026. The contract begins upon ex*****on (anticipated December 1, 2026) and runs through December 31, 2028, the end of the ARC award period of performance, plus closeout.

Email us at [email protected] to get receive for RFP information.

10/07/2026

Are you ready to take your business global? Join us in Dubai December 5 - 12, 2026
https://business.wtcky.org/events/details/dubai-trade-mission-2026-973

09/30/2026

JET USA is officially setting up shop in Louisville, bringing exciting new opportunities, investment, and growth to the region.

The World Trade Center Kentucky was proud to support JET USA through every step of this journey. Helping international companies navigate local markets, connect with key partners, and build a successful home in the Commonwealth is at the core of what we do.

Welcome to Louisville, JET USA! We look forward to seeing your team thrive here.

09/23/2026

🔥 Why are Latin American businesses so hungry to partner with Kentucky?
In this clip from This Global Trade Adventure, World Trade Center Kentucky President & CEO Omar Ayyash sits down with David Lopez, Founder of Valor Insights, following David’s recent trade travels through South America, including Colombia.

Omar asks the million-dollar question for our business community: Just how hungry and interested are markets in Colombia and across Latin America to do business with Kentucky companies?

If you want to discover why international enterprises are eyeing the Commonwealth as a prime business target, and how your company can capitalize on this demand, you'll have to listen to the full episode.

🎧 Hear David's complete answer on Episode 39! Don't forget to follow and subscribe to This Global Trade Adventure podcast so you never miss a global trade insight: 🟢 Spotify, 🎥 YouTube, 🌐 Listen on our website: www.WTCKY.org/podcast

09/18/2026

🌎 Why Kentucky’s Demographic Shift is a Game-Changer for Economic Growth and Business Entry!
In this spotlight from This Global Trade Adventure, David Lopez, Founder of Valor Insights, breaks down how the Latin and Hispanic community is revitalizing Kentucky’s workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

While Kentucky faces long-term workforce trajectory concerns with an overall average age of nearly 40 years, the Latin and Hispanic population in the Commonwealth brings a dramatically younger average age of just 29 years. This younger demographic offers crucial years of productivity ahead to help solve regional workforce gaps over the coming decades.

Beyond workforce development, entrepreneurship is booming—the Latin and Hispanic community is starting businesses at a higher rate than any other demographic in the United States.

In Kentucky alone, more than 18,000 Latin and Hispanic-owned businesses were recorded as of 2023.
This combination of youth, talent, and business creation makes Kentucky an ideal environment for international trade, market entry, and commercial growth.

👇 Scroll down the WTCKY timeline to watch the full interview with David Lopez. 👇

🎧 Stay ahead of global and regional trade trends! Follow and subscribe to This Global Trade Adventure podcast so you never miss an episode: 🟢 Spotify, 🎥 YouTube, and 🌐 Listen on our website: www.WTCKY.org/podcast

09/16/2026

🇧🇪 ✈️ 🇺🇸 From Belgium to the Bluegrass: Why This Industrial Automation Leader Chose Kentucky!
"If you're always scared of things that are happening outside of what you can control, then we would never jump."

In Episode 40 of This Global Trade Adventure, recorded live at the recent WTCKY World Trade Day event, hosts Steve Marks (WTCKY Board Chair) and Parashar Joshi (Ex-Board Chair) sit down with Jan Jansen, the second-generation co-owner of Belgium-based Jansen Electro Techniek (JET).

Jan shares how their 30-year-old family business evolved from general electrical contracting into a global provider of custom industrial automation, advanced electrical engineering, and robotic machine building. While a single customer originally brought JET to Louisville, it was Kentucky's massive manufacturing ecosystem and incredibly helpful business community that convinced them to stay and set up their permanent US office here.

Don't miss Jan's insights on navigating international growth, blending business cultures, and why he believes "it’s always the right time to jump" into new markets. JET's new Louisville office officially opened on September 15th!

🎧 Hear the full conversation and follow our podcast journey! Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure so you never miss an episode: 🎤 Spotify, 🎥 YouTube, 🌐 Listen on our website: www.WTCKY.org/podcast

09/14/2026

World Trade Day may be over, but setting your company up for international trade success is always our goal!

Register today for the Fall 2026 International Trade Certification Program Sep 29 - Oct 1. This 3 day intensive course schedule brings together industry experts, government officials, and fellow professionals to bring you and your company real-world experience and invaluable insights.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/TradeCert