Members of the Qatar Leadership Delegation meet with Governor Jay Inslee at the State Capitol in Olympia

The Trade Alliance is currently hosting a leadership delegation from Qatar. The delegation is here to learn best practices from Washington businesses, nonprofits and government. The Trade Alliance has organized their trip itinerary, which featured a meeting with the Governor, visits to the Port of Seattle and Boeing, and a business reception at the Chihuly Boathouse amongst other activities.

Ian Bremmer speaking at this morning’s event at the Seattle Metro Chamber and organized by the Trade Alliance

The Trade Alliance was honored to welcome Dr. Ian Bremmer to speak to the Greater Seattle business community this morning. Bremmer led an engaging and dynamic discussion on a variety of different geopolitical topics, offering his insights into the business and political contexts of China, Europe, India, Russia, amongst other topics.

This was the first Trade Alliance event held in the new offices of the Seattle Chamber, where the Trade Alliance is co-located.

Delegates from the 2013 Trade Alliance Aerospace Business Mission to the UAE meet with Dubai leaders in early March.

The Trade Alliance is proud to welcome a high-level delegation from Dubai later this month. The 6-person delegation includes the Director General of the Government’s Department of Economic Development, H.E. Sami Ahmad Dhaen Al Qamzi, as well as top representatives from Dubai’s Foreign Investment Office and Dubai Exports.

The Trade Alliance is organizing a program for the Greater Seattle business community to have the opportunity to meet with this delegation. The program will be held on Thursday, May 20th from 8-10:30 AM. For more information and to register, click here

Source: Stephen Voss, Wikipedia

The Trade Alliance, in partnership with the Washington Council on International Trade, the World Affairs Council, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber, is proud to welcome Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group, to Greater Seattle on Tuesday, May 14th.

Ian Bremmer heads a leading global political risk research and consulting firm, is a bestselling author, and a contributor to the Financial Times A-List and Reuters.com. Join us at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber on May 14th to hear Bremmer speak on the next challenges facing the United States, Europe, and China.

For a taste of what to expect, check out the following video featuring Bremmer and Nouriel Roubini (the man who predicted the financial crisis) as they discuss globalism, China and more.

For more information and to register for this program, click here.

The reception area, the first place you’ll see when visiting the Trade Alliance’s new offices

The Trade Alliance has moved! Along with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber and its other affiliate organizations, the Trade Alliance is now on the 15th floor at the same 1301 Fifth Avenue location. The floor has been designed as an open-space layout and features a fantastic “Microsoft Conference Center” that is welcome for outside organizations and businesses to use.

Please bear with us these next few days if staff members are a little slower than usual to respond while we unpack and adjust to our new space. Thank you for your patience, and we hope that you drop by to check out our new offices soon!

Trade Alliance President, Sam Kaplan, speaks to the crowd at the Municipal League Foundation’s Civic Awards Ceremony. To his left is Port of Seattle Commissioner, Tom Albro, and Former President of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber, George Duff.

Last Thursday, the Trade Development Alliance received the distinct honor of being named “Organization of the year” by the Municipal League Foundation during the 2013 Civic Awards Ceremony. The award is given every year to a nominated business or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the King County community.

Tom Albro, Commissioner of the Port of Seattle and current Trade Alliance board member, presented the award along with George Duff, Past President of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber and one of the founders of the Trade Alliance. Accepting the award was Bill Stafford, Past President, and Sam Kaplan, President of the Trade Alliance. The entire staff were also in attendance.

Aerial view overlooking the Ports of Los Angeles & Long Beach in California. Photo Credit: NickCPrior, Wikipedia

Trade Alliance President, Sam Kaplan, will head down to Los Angeles on Friday to join up with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber’s 2013 Intercity Study Mission. The trip, which officially departs tomorrow, will bring a delegation consisting of regional senior-level government, business and civic leaders to Los Angeles to study a variety of issues.

On Friday the delegation will head to the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the country’s #1 seaport, to learn and draw lessons from Los Angeles’ thriving ports and maritime trade sector. Sam will help to kick off this segment of the trip and provide valuable context regarding the importance of ports and maritime to the Greater Seattle region.

Changping Tang speaks to Advisory Council Members about her role as a director for the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington
Photo Credit: Changping Tang

The Trade Alliance welcomed the Confucius Institute of Washington to present to the Trade Alliance Advisory Council for its 1st Quarter meeting last Wednesday. Representing the Confucius Institute was its American Director, Ms. Karen Kodama, and its Chinese Director, Ms. Changping (Donna) Tang. Together the two directors gave an overview of the Confucius Institute’s mission, history, and current activities.

The Trade Alliance Advisory Council is comprised of over 65 business, education, nonprofit, and civic professionals representing the Greater Seattle international community. To learn more and how to join, please contact Tamara at tamarat@seattletradealliance.com.

Our Trade Alliance Annual Dinner is set for Thursday, June 6th and we want YOU there! Taking place at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, we will host our second international forecasting competition, featuring last year’s victor Len Jordan as well as newcomer, Jon Talton. And of course, you will also get to compete with your table against the entire audience for bragging rights and prizes.

You will also have the opportunity to hear from Governor Inslee on the eve of his first international trip as Governor to the Paris Air Show. Click here for more details and to register.

From left to right: Terry Danysh, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney; Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai FDI; Stephanie Wright, Councilmember, Snohomish County

The Trade Alliance and the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County both signed Memorandum of Understandings with the Dubai Foreign Investment Office last week.

For the full press release, click here.