This Week in World News - December 19, 2025 | | Wishing all of our WTC members, partners and friends a peaceful holiday season and continued success in 2026 and beyond! | | World Trade Center St. Louis 2025 Highlights | | British Airways Announces New Non-Stop Flight Between
St. Louis and London | | |
British Airways will be touching down in St. Louis, Missouri for customers looking to book their next trip across the pond. British Airways has announced it will begin seasonal non-stop service between St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR), connecting St. Louis travelers directly to one of the world’s most important global hubs beginning April 19, 2026.
The new, direct service will provide customers with greater access and premium service to the U.K. and beyond. With this new route, customers have access to one of the world’s most extensive global networks through British Airways’ hub at London Heathrow Airport.
“The is a great day for the future of St. Louis,” said Ambassador Kevin F. O’Malley, Chair of the St. Louis County Port Authority which took the lead role in securing the contract. “Obtaining non-stop service between St. Louis and London has been a goal of the Port Authority and one which we are happy to announce today. With this new route, British Airways, a world-class international carrier, is recognizing the progress our City and County are making and the growing importance of the St. Louis region in the global economy.”
Read the story in full here
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Growing Global 2025 Africa Rising:
Navigating Markets, Investments & Trade
| | Growing Global 2025 Focuses on Importance of Africa for St. Louis | | Pictured: Tim Nowak, Executive Director, World Trade Center St. Louis; Fred Swaniker, Founder & CEO, Sand Technologies; Elzandi Oosthuizen, SVP, Head Enterprise Corn Product Team, Bayer Crop Science Division; Arthur Asiimwe, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States and Debbie Monterrey, News Anchor, KMOX. | | |
This year's Growing Global event focused on Africa as an up-and-coming trade and investment partner for St. Louis.
Speakers included Arthur Asiimwe, deputy chief of mission for the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to the U.S., Elzandi Oosthuizen, senior vice president of the Head Enterprise Corn Product Team at Bayer Crop Science Division and Fred Swaniker, founder and CEO of Sand Technologies.
“America looks at Africa as a source of demand, but you should also look at Africa as a source of supply,” Swaniker said during the panel discussion. “One source is talent, and the second source is innovation. When you go to Africa, it opens your eyes to the innovation that is there.”
Africa, where the population is projected to nearly double to 2.5 billion people by 2050, is home to a young and entrepreneurial workforce poised to increase prosperity on the continent and around the world. Because of this, St. Louis views Africa as a future vibrant trading partner.
Read 2025 Growing Global Recap here
WATCH VIDEO: Growing Global 2025 Program in Full
| | St. Louis Sister Cities Anniversary Celebration | |
St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Celebrates 65th Anniversary
German delegation visited Nov. 12-15
The St. Louis–Stuttgart Sister Cities (SLSSC) Committee, one of the oldest German sister city relationships in the U.S., is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2025. To honor the anniversary, SLSSC welcomed a delegation from Stuttgart, Germany. Dr. Clemens Maier, deputy mayor for the City of Stuttgart, who oversees the department of security, order and sport, led the Stuttgart delegation as they visited St. Louis from Nov. 12 to 15. The visit to St. Louis included meeting with German companies that have operations in St. Louis and a gala on Nov. 14 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel to celebrate the 65th anniversary.
“After 65 years, the partnership is about more than just diplomacy, it is about genuine friendship between citizens of two cities nearly 5,000 miles apart,” said Susanne Evens, president of St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Committee. “The success of the St. Louis–Stuttgart Sister Cities relationship shows that when communities invest in mutual respect, cultural understanding and shared experiences, they create not only international ties, but enduring peace.”
The 65th anniversary celebration on Nov. 14 was also Evens’ last day as president after 20 years on the job. Bob Case has succeeded her in the role of president.
Read the story in full here
| | St. Louis Economic Development Partnership -
Business Retention & Expansion Survey | | |
The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is conducting a brief survey to better understand the needs of companies across St. Louis. The survey has 11 questions and takes only a few minutes. This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with several key partners as part of a joint Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) effort. Partners include the St. Louis Development Corporation, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Greater St. Louis Inc., SLATE, St. Louis County - Human Services, World Trade Center St. Louis, Ameren, and Spire.
Please know your privacy is our utmost concern – all responses will be anonymously recorded.
| | St. Louis Mosaic Project
Growing the Global Talent Pipeline | | |
International Student Hiring Challenge - Successful Launch
Nine companies in St. Louis City and County joined Mosaic’s first-year hiring challenge, resulting in 12 international students participating in internships and one full-time hire. This initiative gives employers a practical, easy on-ramp to hiring international talent who don't require sponsorship. A standout moment from the internship challenge: some of our interns gathered for a special meet-and-greet with Mayor Cara Spencer and County Executive Sam Page at this year's Growing Global. We’re grateful for the leadership and support that helped make this experience possible.
More information here
Read St. Louis Mosaic Project 2025 Highlights here
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