As the curtain comes down on another MIPIM, the world’s premier real estate event, the first public unveiling of World Trade Center Gibraltar was deemed a resounding success. Holding centre stage on the World Trade Centers Association stand, the Gibraltar project attracted considerable interest and set the wheels in motion for several follow-up trade missions across the globe.
Occupying a prime position on the main exhibition thoroughfare, the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) gained maximum exposure to promote more than 330 member WTCs in nearly 100 countries as well as its mission statement – prosperity through trade. Little wonder that WTC is known as the world’s greatest signature address if you are in business. And this year, the newly approved World Trade Centre Gibraltar (WTCG), was able to capture more than its fair share of the limelight.
Brian Stevendale, World Trade Center Gibraltar’s Business and Development Director, comments, “We transported a spectacular scale model of the WTCG building to Cannes and it was viewed to be the best that the WTCA had displayed on their stand, quite some compliment given the number of WTCs that have been launched globally over the years. Our model demonstrated how the 170,000sqft project will redefine office facilities within Gibraltar, currently one of the most dynamic and growing economies in Europe. The Team engaged with many interested parties from the US to the Far East, including a global company who wish to enter Gibraltar and have committed to 30,000sqft of space, and we have left with plenty of positive leads to pursue. It’s immensely satisfying to see our physically small territory of less than 7sqkm stand shoulder to shoulder with the mighty WTCs of the world.”
The WTCA also took the opportunity to fly in an international film crew to capture staff from New York, Regional Coordinators for Europe and Brian Stevendale from Gibraltar, discussing their individual successes on camera. The material, recorded in English and in French, will be incorporated into future WTCA promotional material including a video to be shown at the AGM in São Paulo later this year.
WTCG was also the subject of several radio and TV interviews from Radio Gibraltar to French national television channels.
WTCG is slated to begin construction soon and will take an estimated 22 months to complete. The Gibraltar Team will shortly launch a Schools Awards Programme whereby local Gibraltarian schoolchildren can put forward their vision for business and commerce in Gibraltar under the guidance of key mentors in the community from Government Ministers to Heads of Industry. Finalists will see their projects form part of an exhibition in the WTCG foyer for the first year of trading.
*About WTC Gibraltar – Gibraltar’s application to establish a World Trade Center (WTC) was approved by the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) at the conclusion of its Annual General Assembly in Beijing, China, in October of last year. This gives Gibraltar the 335th licence to be awarded across the globe to develop international trade.
With outline planning permission already in place, the seven-storey 15,000sqm WTC Gibraltar building will effectively treble the office space already sold or leased at the Ocean Village development. Pure office space aside, the prestigious superstructure will also include business club executive lounges with dining facilities, secretarial services, year-round exhibition and display areas, virtual offices, state-of-the-art video conferencing and telecommunications, high speed lifts, climate control, electronic security access and CCTV as well as ample parking.
