World Trade Center Arkansas

World Trade Center Arkansas Official member of The World Trade Association. We Grow Trade.

The World Trade Center Arkansas brings together businesses and government agencies to grow international trade, strengthening the worldwide presence of Arkansas. By offering world class services, global connections and trade development programs; the extraordinary products and services of Arkansas companies will gain foreign market access and allow us to provide an enhanced educational experience for student in global commerce.

🌐 | This week’s edition highlights developments across North American trade negotiations, aerospace manufacturing dema...
06/03/2026

🌐 | This week’s edition highlights developments across North American trade negotiations, aerospace manufacturing demand, U.S.-India trade engagement, and international economic policy discussions shaping the global business environment.

From the launch of formal USMCA review discussions between the United States and Mexico, to continued aerospace production demand driven by record industry backlogs, these developments reflect the growing importance of supply chain resilience, market access, and long-term industrial competitiveness. Additional momentum comes from ongoing U.S.-India trade negotiations aimed at advancing a bilateral trade framework, as well as policy discussions taking place at the OECD - OCDE Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris focused on industrial policy, open markets, growth, and competitiveness.

For Arkansas, these signals are particularly relevant across manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, transportation, logistics, and export-oriented industries. As businesses navigate an increasingly interconnected global economy, developments affecting trade agreements, production capacity, international market access, and competitiveness can influence strategic planning, investment decisions, and future growth opportunities.

Staying attuned to these signals helps Arkansas companies better understand the evolving global landscape and identify emerging opportunities across international trade, advanced manufacturing, and global supply chains.

Were these signals already on your radar? 💬

| Representatives from the business community, chambers of commerce, academia, and international trade organizations r...
06/03/2026

| Representatives from the business community, chambers of commerce, academia, and international trade organizations recently gathered for a focused working session to help shape the next phase of .

Convened in collaboration with World Trade Center Arkansas, the discussion centered on identifying strategic priorities, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and exploring opportunities to further position OWIT Arkansas as a platform for international connection, professional development, and cross-sector collaboration.

Participants explored ways the chapter can complement the strong leadership, business, educational, and community initiatives already taking place across Arkansas by fostering greater international engagement, multicultural understanding, and global connectivity across industries and institutions.

As part of a global network, OWIT Arkansas is uniquely positioned to complement existing business and community initiatives by providing greater access to international perspectives, global connections, and cross-border relationship-building opportunities.

The session reflected a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring OWIT Arkansas serves as a collaborative platform that complements existing organizations while expanding opportunities for international engagement, professional growth, and global connectivity across the state.



| Arkansas Companies Connect with International Buyers Through Chicago 🌎As part of the National Restaurant Associati...
06/01/2026

| Arkansas Companies Connect with International Buyers Through Chicago 🌎

As part of the National Restaurant Association Show, Arkansas companies including Della Rice, Natural State Rabbit, Delta Dirt Distillery, and York Pecans participated in Taste of the States: Chicago, a business matchmaking program designed to connect U.S. food and beverage producers with qualified international buyers actively seeking new sourcing opportunities.

Organized through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) and the NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which represents the state departments of agriculture across the United States, the program facilitates direct engagement between American exporters and global buyers through curated networking opportunities and pre-arranged business meetings.

For Arkansas food and beverage companies, these interactions provide valuable opportunities to strengthen international relationships, explore new markets, and expand export potential within one of the largest foodservice events in the Western Hemisphere.

With buyers representing more than 110 countries, Taste of the States serves as an important platform for showcasing U.S. products while helping businesses establish the commercial connections that support long-term international growth and market expansion.



05/28/2026

| Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and Global Engagement 🌐

Denise Thomas, CEO of World Trade Center Arkansas, recently joined the Shameless Reinvention podcast for a conversation exploring the role of emotional intelligence, leadership, and personal growth in navigating today’s increasingly complex professional and global environments.

Throughout the discussion, Denise reflected on the importance of self-awareness, adaptability, and relationship-building as essential components of effective leadership, particularly in fields connected to international business, strategic engagement, and global collaboration.

The conversation also highlights how strong leadership extends beyond technical expertise, emphasizing the value of communication, perspective, and human connection in building resilient organizations and meaningful professional impact.

🎧 We invite you to listen to the upcoming episode and learn more about the leadership principles shaping today’s global conversations.



| WTC Arkansas Highlights Trade, Investment, and Competitiveness to Guatemalan Delegation 🇺🇸🇬🇹World Trade Center Arkan...
05/28/2026

| WTC Arkansas Highlights Trade, Investment, and Competitiveness to Guatemalan Delegation 🇺🇸🇬🇹

World Trade Center Arkansas recently participated in a high-level presentation before an interinstitutional delegation from Guatemala at the Arkansas State Capitol, engaging senior military leaders, government representatives, university officials, and business stakeholders on the role of entrepreneurship, foreign investment, and international trade in strengthening economic competitiveness.

During the session, WTC Arkansas highlighted how long-term fiscal discipline, workforce development, industrial specialization, entrepreneurship, and global trade alignment have contributed to positioning Arkansas as an increasingly competitive economic platform within the United States.

The presentation also explored the role of strategic collaboration between institutions such as the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and World Trade Center Arkansas in supporting business growth, international engagement, investment attraction, and market expansion across key sectors including food and beverage, aerospace and defense, logistics, metals, forest products, and innovation-driven industries.

WTC Arkansas also extends its appreciation to the Arkansas National Guard for the invitation and coordination of this important international engagement, which continues strengthening institutional dialogue and international relationships between Arkansas and Guatemala.

As part of its continued mission, World Trade Center Arkansas remains committed to strengthening Arkansas’ international connectivity, supporting globally competitive businesses, and fostering strategic relationships that contribute to long-term economic growth and international engagement for the state.

#ᴛʙᴛ

| In today’s global economy, long-term business growth is no longer driven solely by sales, it increasingly depends on...
05/27/2026

| In today’s global economy, long-term business growth is no longer driven solely by sales, it increasingly depends on supply chain resilience, trusted international relationships, operational flexibility, and access to strategic global partnerships 🌍

In this opinion piece, Denise Thomas, CEO of the World Trade Center Arkansas, reflects on how Arkansas companies are leveraging the World Trade Centers Association network to strengthen supply chains, identify near-shoring opportunities, build strategic manufacturing relationships, and improve long-term competitiveness in an increasingly complex international marketplace.

📖 A brief read on how global trade networks, international market intelligence, diplomatic engagement, and trusted partnerships help Arkansas companies reduce operational risk, improve efficiency, strengthen profitability, and build more resilient global businesses for the future.

🌐 | This week’s edition highlights developments across agricultural manufacturing, energy infrastructure investment, a...
05/27/2026

🌐 | This week’s edition highlights developments across agricultural manufacturing, energy infrastructure investment, and continued U.S. export growth shaping the broader global trade environment.

From Gowan Milling’s expansion in Blytheville supporting agricultural input manufacturing, to the opening of CEP USA’s first U.S. manufacturing facility in North Little Rock focused on electrical substations and grid infrastructure, these developments reflect continued industrial momentum across Arkansas. At the national level, new trade data showing continued growth in U.S. exports across manufacturing, energy, and agriculture further reinforces the importance of resilient supply chains and sustained global demand for U.S. products.

For Arkansas, these signals carry direct implications across agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, energy equipment, transportation, and logistics. Continued domestic and international investment into production capacity, paired with steady export activity, strengthens the state’s positioning within integrated North American and global supply chains while creating additional opportunities for long-term industrial competitiveness and export-driven growth.

Staying attuned to these signals helps Arkansas businesses navigate evolving market conditions, assess operational strategies, and identify opportunities across manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, and international trade.

Were these signals already on your radar? 💬

| Strengthening Supply Chains in a Shifting Global Environment 🌐As global trade conditions continue to evolve, compani...
05/26/2026

| Strengthening Supply Chains in a Shifting Global Environment 🌐

As global trade conditions continue to evolve, companies are facing increasing pressure from tariffs, geopolitical uncertainty, sourcing volatility, and ongoing supply chain disruption. Building resilient and strategically aligned supply chains has become essential to maintaining competitiveness and operational continuity.

Join Tom Cook, Managing Director of Blue Tiger International, for “Delivering Resilience in Your Global Supply Chain: Managing Tariffs, Disruption & Strategic Sourcing,” a practical webinar focused on navigating today’s international trade and sourcing environment.

Designed for procurement, supply chain, and operations professionals, the session will explore approaches to managing tariff exposure, strengthening sourcing strategies, improving supplier resilience, and adapting to evolving global trade conditions.

📅 June 03, 2026
🕒 2:30–3:30 PM (CST)
📍 Virtual
🔗 Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/delivering-resilience-in-your-global-supply-chain-tickets-1988096747891?aff=oddtdtcreator

An event organized by: Arkansas District Export Council and Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions




🌐 | A delegation of Arkansas food and beverage companies participated in the National Restaurant Association Show in C...
05/19/2026

🌐 | A delegation of Arkansas food and beverage companies participated in the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago alongside World Trade Center Arkansas, including Della Rice, Natural State Rabbit, Delta Dirt Distillery, and York Pecans.

Organized by the National Restaurant Association and Informa Connect Foodservice, the Show is recognized as the Western Hemisphere’s leading foodservice event, bringing together thousands of global buyers, suppliers, operators, and industry leaders to explore emerging consumer trends, operational innovation, food technologies, and evolving market opportunities shaping the future of the industry.

Throughout the event, the delegation engaged with strategic stakeholders across the sector and had the opportunity to connect with Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, and Luke J. Lindberg, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, in conversations centered on international trade, market access, and the continued growth potential of Arkansas companies in global markets.

World Trade Center Arkansas remains committed to supporting companies across the state through initiatives that strengthen international visibility, foster strategic commercial connections, and contribute to the long-term global growth of Arkansas industries.



| In today’s global economy, international growth is no longer driven solely by products or pricing, it is increasingl...
05/18/2026

| In today’s global economy, international growth is no longer driven solely by products or pricing, it is increasingly shaped by access to trusted relationships, institutional credibility, and global networks that open doors across markets 🌍.

In this opinion piece, Denise Thomas, CEO of the World Trade Center Arkansas, reflects on how Arkansas companies benefit from the global reach of the World Trade Centers Association network, and why strategic international relationships often become one of the most valuable competitive advantages for businesses seeking long-term global expansion.

📖 A brief read on how trusted introductions, diplomatic engagement, global trade networks, and long-term relationship building help Arkansas companies strengthen international visibility, accelerate market access, and compete more effectively in the global marketplace.

Address

3300 Market Street
Rogers, AR
72758

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14794184800

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when World Trade Center Arkansas posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to World Trade Center Arkansas:

Shortcuts

Share

Category