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Dear Colleagues,
After more than nine years, this is my last letter to our members, constituents and partners. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I wish I could thank each of you individually but, if I did, this letter would reach 10 pages. Thank you so much to the World Trade Center board of directors for participating in the vision. It has been our honor to mentor interns from near and far. They have all, without exception, been enthusiastic and capable. It thrills me to follow their careers. I am especially proud that we now offer paid internships. Students should never have to forgo learning because they can’t afford to volunteer. I hope this remains a priority.
Thank you to Delaware’s governors and secretaries of state. Thank you to General Assembly lawmakers, especially those who graciously agreed to serve as ex-officio members of our board, representing Delaware’s taxpayers. I am so grateful that former Rep. Melanie George Smith agreed to serve as chair when she stepped down from the General Assembly. State Sen. Harris McDowell III encouraged us to link to global governments. He was responsible for legislation allowing WTC Delaware to work officially on behalf of the state. Thank you to state Rep. Jeff Spiegelman for sponsoring legislation to designate April 27, the date of our founding, as World Trade Center Delaware Day.
Members of our congressional delegation have opened many opportunities to us and been a pleasure to work with and serve. They and their staffs have helped WTC, whether addressing an event or initiating a contact.
Thank you to fellow Delaware organizations for requesting our expertise to expand their services internationally.
Thank you to the entire team, past and present, at the US Commercial Service in Philadelphia. The WTC Delaware has been a parter for many, many years, but the assistance you have offered to us and our constituents has been vital to our operation.
One person who has been here from the beginning is David Mathe’, director of International Development and Export Delaware. We go back to the Governor’s International Trade Council and the earliest days of this organization. I’m grateful to Anabel Panayotti, founder and CEO of Port to Port International, the first person I recommended to serve on the board of directors. They could answer any question, and I could test ideas with assurance that they would give me knowledgeable, honest answers. More than once, they kept me tethered to earth.
Two people who have been instrumental in shaping the World Trade Center Delaware of today are no longer with us. Former Chairman Charlie Tomlinson of Today Media and Delaware Business Times was the driving force and cheerleader for International Delaware™ magazine. He understood its value and helped us achieve its mission. Charlie, thank you. I hope this year’s edition makes you proud.
How do I thank George Kearns, board member and acting chair? He died July 2, 2025, leaving a huge hole in my heart. As chair of the SMART Congressional Initiative International Committee, he had a front row seat to WTC Delaware. He volunteered early to help in any capacity, including serving on the board. His worldwide business and policy experience and in-depth knowledge of the World Trade Centers Association were especially valuable. Seemingly, experts from any country from Botswana to the Bahamas knew George. During tough financial times, he opened his checkbook and asked many of his friends to do so. A mentor and friend for many years, George was one of a kind.
Although I have worked on every continent except Antarctica, being president of WTC Delaware was not in my long-range plan. In 2016, I was working on a telemedicine project for NATO and completing a book on telemedicine for NATO. We all know about best-laid plans ...
You know the rest. We are a far different organization than we were in 2016. Then, I had to provide a computer. Since then, thanks to the board and the people and organizations I mentioned, we have brought funding and resources to Delaware and developed formal partnerships with the federal government and multilateral institutions.
Three examples:
- I have been involved with the Corporate Council on Africa for many years and wanted to tap its expertise to make Africa more accessible for Delaware exporters because the state is home to six of the 10 fastest-growing economies, and the Delaware Valley has the nation’s largest African Diaspora population. Companies that participated in our annual WTC Delaware Kickoff to the US-Africa Business Summit or exhibited there have developed markets for their products or services. One of the companies that accompanied us wrote a letter to then-Gov. John Carney, saying it expected $100 million in sales from participating in the summit and our assistance. We continue to assist that company in other countries.
- WTC Delaware initiated a close relationship with Export-Import Bank of the United States and became a member of the Regional Export Promotion Program, providing export finance training and links to EXIM staff. We are proud that EXIM named WTC Delaware as EXIM REPP of the Year 2023.
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The World Trade Centers Association® network offered pivotal aid to our plan for a significant COVID response. During the pandemic, we helped companies and organizations source PPE, find baby formula and solve supply chain issues. While much of the United States closed during COVID, we did not close a single day -- all without charge to a single Delawarean. Thank you, Joint Finance Committee.
As proud as I am of this, I treasure most a note with a hand-drawn heart that I received when a small-business CEO returned from a trade show we did together in Ghana.
“I LOVE YOU!!!. I completed my first sale with Ghana today. Small but lovely.”
This sums up why World Trade Center Delaware is so important.
Finally, I especially want to thank Nesrin Cakiroglu, our director of operations and training. She started as a volunteer intern while attending Wilmington University. Still a student, she stepped up to become interim director, in fact, if not by title, when the previous president moved out of state. I remember visiting her office or taking her calls about an event with an ambassador with very few people registered to attend. Was I sure I would attend? When Nesrin called, I always said yes, because I knew that she didn’t ask unless she really needed help. She is the glue that binds the organization.
We have shared happy and sad times, family visits, trade shows and travel, successful galas and non-functioning webinar links, getting COVID vaccines, cooking and gardening lessons, and lots of meals. We texted: “What are you still doing up and working?” and reminded each other that it was daytime on the other side of the globe, even if it was 2 a.m. here. She is far more than a colleague. She is a dear, dear friend, and I will miss her most of all.
| | WTC Delaware Premier Members | |
Learn more about Delaware Business Times
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Fulton Bank is a full-service financial institution that has served individuals, families, and businesses for more than 140 years. Headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the bank operates throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and is committed to building strong communities through personalized banking services, community partnerships, and inclusive economic growth. Fulton offers a wide range of financial solutions including personal and business banking, lending, and wealth management.
Learn more: fultonbank.com
| | Has Your Business Been Affected by Tariffs? | | |
We want to hear from you. Help World Trade Center Delaware better understand how changes in tariffs and trade policy are affecting your business by completing this short survey.
Your insights will help us advocate for your needs and connect you to the right resources.
| | 2025-2026 International Delaware Available Now | | |
The 9th edition of International Delaware™ has launched. When we first started the magazine, we had no idea that it would become a permanent part of World Trade Center Delaware. This year’s magazine is a departure from any we have done before. We are featuring Delaware’s vibrant and ever-expanding arts sector, which is an essential driver for the state’s economy. When companies choose to locate, they want to know that their employees will have a high quality of life. The arts offer this, as well as the creative cauldron that results in new products and services.
Need additional copies? Feel free to reach out to us at info@wtcde.org. Our magazine serves as an excellent marketing tool for companies looking to tell Delaware’s story and attract new customers, suppliers, or investors.
| | Juhyuk Kim Joins World Trade Center Delaware as Research and Trade Information Intern | | |
Juhyuk Kim has joined World Trade Center Delaware as a research and trade information intern. In this role, he conducts research on foreign and domestic markets and identifies trade leads to support business development. He also assists with member services, database management, event support, marketing, and other administrative and operational tasks.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and Korean law from Handong Global University in South Korea, where he focused on diplomacy and Korean Peninsula affairs. He has presented at forums including Freedom Speakers International, SUFS Forums, and university seminars on topics such as North Korean human rights, culture, and unification policy. His academic work includes research on post-unification legal frameworks and Northeast Asian security dynamics.
At Handong, Kim served as a student leader in the Unification Law Society and the Unification Academy, where he organized campus-wide events to raise awareness about human rights and unification issues. He has authored academic papers on unification policy, diplomacy, and governance on the Korean Peninsula.
His international experience includes visits to the U.K. Parliament, the European Union headquarters, and the United Nations Office in Geneva through a university training program. These experiences gave him first-hand insight into how global institutions work together on diplomatic and policy challenges.
Kim’s long-term goal is to build a career in diplomacy, with a focus on Korean Peninsula peace, unification policy, and international cooperation.
Welcome, Juhyuk.
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The Impact of the Akwaba African Diaspora Festival: Strengthening Economic Ties Between
West Africa and Delaware
Article by: Brian Dill, WTC Delaware Communications Intern
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World Trade Center Delaware hosted a delegation from West Africa as a part of the 2025 Akwaba African Diaspora Festival. The festival brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and government officials to learn about the trade and export opportunities in Delaware. World Trade Center Delaware collaborated with program organizer Eric Schneider and program founder, Moussa Koné, to facilitate discussions about trade relations between Delaware and West Africa.
Enstructure and World Trade Center Delaware arranged an on-site visit to Port Wilmington. The delegation observed the transport of various cargo, ranging from Chiquita and Dole fruits to luxury vehicles being loaded for intermodal shipment. Enstructure's Diego Lopez and Eugene Young Jr. shared an overview of Enstructure’s services and opportunities available in Delaware as well as information about Delaware’s Foreign Trade Zone #99. The port’s central location along the East Coast, extensive cold storage warehousing, and experience with project cargos provide significant opportunities for West African businesses seeking global expansion.
World Trade Center Delaware invited the delegation to a networking luncheon at the University and Whist Club. The State of Delaware’s Director of International Development, David Mathé, led a discussion about the benefits of exporting to Delaware. The delegation was also joined by Delaware African and Caribbean Affairs Commission International Committee co-chair Devon Mitchell, Michael McCray, the MTM Global Services CEO, and Delaware Diaspora business leaders. Delegation members connected with Delaware business professionals to share industry knowledge, express business needs, and inquire about growth opportunities in the Delaware region.
The delegation visited the Secretary of Agriculture, Wm. Donald Clifton II, to discuss processing technology and infrastructure development for products such as cocoa, cashews, and soybeans. The Secretary of Agriculture shared how food and agriculture industries provide more than $31 billion in economic activity to the state of Delaware. Delaware’s commitment to agricultural compliance and economic development could provide opportunities for joint collaboration between West African businesses and the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
World Trade Center Delaware, Enstructure, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture are planning to create additional seminars and workshops that highlight opportunities for 2-way trade and investment in West Africa. The delegation is invited to return to Delaware on Feb. 19 for the annual chocolate and beer tasting event and the March 31 Kickoff to the US-Africa Business Summit.
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Christmas Across Faiths & Continents:
World Trade Center Delaware – Holiday Snapshot
Article by: Juhyuk Kim, WTC DE Research & Trade Information Intern
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Christmas and the world’s major religions
Christianity
Christmas is one of the most important holidays for Christians, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrations often include church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, festive meals with family, exchanging gifts, and decorating homes with lights, trees, and nativity scenes.
Islam
Muslims honor Jesus (Isa) as a prophet but do not observe Christmas as a religious holiday. In multicultural settings, some Muslims may participate in Christmas-related events socially at school, work, or with friends while maintaining their own faith traditions.
Buddhism and Hinduism
Christmas is not a religious holiday in Buddhism or Hinduism, but many Buddhists and Hindus join in the cultural side of the season. Decorating, shopping, listening to holiday music, and spending time with friends are common, even as families observe major holidays such as Vesak or Diwali.
Christmas around the world:
Chile
In Chile, Christmas arrives in the summer. Families gather on Christmas Eve for a late-night dinner and exchange gifts, with many attending Misa del Gallo, or midnight Mass. Children wait for Viejito Pascuero, the Chilean version of Santa Claus. Traditional foods include Pan de Pascua, a fruit-and-nut cake, and cola de mono, a sweet milk-based holiday drink.
Philippines
The Philippines celebrates one of the world’s longest Christmas seasons, beginning in September. A key tradition is Simbang Gabi, a series of early morning masses held during the nine days leading up to Christmas. Homes and streets shine with parols, star-shaped lanterns, and families come together for Noche Buena, a joyful midnight feast on Christmas Eve.
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, most Christians observe Christmas, known as Genna, on January 7. Many attend all-night church services, especially in the historic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Celebrations include traditional Ethiopian meals and, in some areas, a field game also called Genna.
By learning how different cultures and religions celebrate the holiday season, we deepen our global understanding and strengthen the relationships that support trade and international cooperation. World Trade Center Delaware wishes all of our members and partners a peaceful and joyful holiday season.
| | Happy Holidays from WTC Delaware | | |
Register Today:
2026 EXIM Annual Conference
| | Happy New Year from WTC Delaware | | From Sussex County to the World | | |
Sussex County, Delaware, produces more broilers than any other in the entire US. See where we fit into the global market for poultry trade.
Read more.
| | Small Businesses Feel the Impact of New Tariffs | | |
Small, immigrant-owned businesses are on the front lines of the latest tariff hikes.
In Delaware, restaurateurs and shop owners who rely on imported ingredients are seeing:
• Tariffs on key goods are doubling
• Grocery bills jump nearly 20%
• Tariffs could cost American households about $1,600 next year
• Surprise tariff charges on cultural goods ordered online
Carla Stone, President of World Trade Center Delaware, recently spoke with The News Journal about what this means for local businesses, immigrant families, and the holiday season ahead and why many fear the real impact won’t be fully felt until 2026.
Read the full story here (subscription may be required).
| | TRADE OPPORTUNITIES & TENDERS | | |
WTC Delaware provides a full range of international trade-related services with an in-depth focus on the export/import of services and manufactured goods. These pages contain brief information on opportunities that could offer exciting possibilities for U.S. companies in various industry sectors.
DELAWARE: FY27 Delaware Division of the Arts Grant Opportunity
PALAU: Airport Master Plan Update and Airport System Review Technical Assistance
UNITED STATES: Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) FY26 Grant Opportunity
ANGOLA: Design and Construction of the Expansion of Bulk Water Supply System – RECLIMA Project
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Procurement of Community Nursing Vehicle for Health Systems Improvement Project (HSIP)
EL SALVADOR: Procurement of Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Early Childhood Development Project
ETHIOPIA: Procurement of Motor Vehicles for Education and Skills for Employability Project
JORDAN: Procurement of Advanced Pavement Evaluation Equipment for Ministry of Public Works and Housing
MALAWI: Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project – Development of Two Generating Stations (358 MW)
MOLDOVA: Development and Implementation of Advanced E-Procurement System
View the most recent trade leads here.
Delaware companies: Please fill out our trade leads form so we can market your products or services!
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The World Bank is a global development institution that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries with the goal of reducing poverty and promoting sustainable economic growth. Through loans, grants, and policy advice, the World Bank supports a wide range of projects across sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and climate resilience.
With 189 member countries, the World Bank operates as a vital partner in helping governments strengthen public services, build inclusive economies, and address pressing global challenges. Its work is guided by a commitment to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity through long-term, collaborative strategies.
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January 7, 2026
Webinar: Biological Material Importation: An Overview from CBP, Virtual; U.S. Customs and Border Protection
January 12, 2026
DSCC's 189th Annual Dinner, Wilmington, DE; Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
January 30, 2026
Save the Date: United for Jaimica Press Conference, Wilmington, DE
April 19-22, 2026
World Trade Centers Association® Global Business Forum, Philadelphia, PA
April 29-30, 2026
2026 EXIM Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
June 24-26, 2026
AAEI's 105th Annual Conference & Trade Day, Washington, D.C.
July 26-29, 2026
Save the Date: 2026 U.S.-Africa Business Summit, Mauritius; The Corporate Council on Africa
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As a member, you have access to our conference room, a convenient space for small meetings with modern amenities and a comfortable setting.
It's a great way to host productive discussions and meet with clients or partners in a professional environment.
| | World Trade Center® Delaware is the state’s premier international business resource. We help companies, especially small, medium-sized and emerging enterprises, to grow their international business. We provide trade leads, training programs, job leads, networking, matchmaking, trade mission and reverse trade mission opportunities for Delaware companies. We serve all types of companies in various sectors including agriculture, environmental remediation, IT, medical equipment manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, financial, legal and real estate services. For more information visit us at www.wtcde.org. | | Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
