​World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia News

BASSETT'S ICE CREAM PRESS RELEASE 

 Bassett’s Ice Cream Company, a fifth-generation family business since 1861, has successfully opened its first store in Seoul, South Korea and is now looking for opening 30 additional stores within this year.  Bassett’s Ice Cream, located in Philadelphia, is a full-service frozen dessert distributor, offering over 100 flavors.

OIBD’s Korea Office has been working together with Bassetts’ Ice Cream-Korea Office since 2016 to meet with the local rules and regulations in Korea, including its manufacturing facility registration at the Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. On June 7th, the delegation from Pennsylvania DCED, City of Philadelphia, Team Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Orchestra attended the grand opening of the first store of Bassett Ice Cream.
 
Bassett’s Ice Cream Korea targets for opening additional 15 stores nationwide by the end of August to fulfill the demands of Korean consumers’ premium ice cream, which will certainly increase the shipments from Philadelphia, PA to South Korea. Read More
 
*Picture: Grand Opening ceremony on June 7th, there are several recognizable people attended to celebrate a new journey for Bassett’s Korea. Michael Strange (President of Bassett’s Ice Cream), the City of Philadelphia (Harold Epps – Deputy Mayor for Commerce and Sylvie Howard), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania OIBD (Ken Yang and Mike O’Rourke), Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Lindsay Helsel), the Agricultural Trade Office of the U.S Embassy in Seoul (Lynn Larrabe – Director)

Graziella DiNuzzo, WTCGP Director of Marketing and Communications, sat down with Chairman Gary Biehn to ask a few questions.

Why Tianjin, China?
Philadelphia and Tianjin share a long-standing tradition of business and cultural exchange dating back to the Sister City Agreement signed between Philadelphia and Tianjin in 1979. In June 2016, a delegation from Tianjin visited with WTCGP China Club members to explore opportunities for cooperation to expand trade and investment between Tianjin and the Binhai New Area and Greater Philadelphia. With the growing need for advanced medical care in China and the interest of Chinese students to attend U.S. colleges and universities, promising sectors identified included health (including medical tourism) and higher education, both strengths of the Greater Philadelphia Region. In addition, Tianjin delegation officials agreed to assist WTCGP member companies in accessing and facilitating business connections and opportunities in Tianjin. Vice Chairman of WTC Tianjin, Zhang Tiejun concluded the meeting by extending a personal invitation to the City and Greater Philadelphia Region to visit Tianjin and the Binhai New Area. This included the possibility of a 2017 trade mission to Sister City, Tianjin, organized by the City of Philadelphia.
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Which members of the City of Philadelphia Trade Mission to Tianjin accompanied you to the signing?
The City of Philadelphia Commerce Department: Lauren Swartz, Senior Director of International Investment and 
Samuel Chueh, Director of International Investment
Citizens Diplomacy International: Siobhan Lyons, President and CEO
Bradley and Bradley Insurance: Steven Bradley, President and CEO and WTCGP Board Member

What does the MOU represent for WTCGP members and clients?
The World Trade Center, Tianjin (WTCT) will serve as a gateway to the Tianjin and China marketplace for WTCGP members and client companies by connecting its member companies with WTCGP clients and members. Particular focus for business to business collaboration will be in the fields of: healthcare, higher education, legal services, food industry, aviation, petrochemicals, automobiles, metalworking and medical device sector.

What does the business landscape look like in Tianjin?
Located in the Northern Coast of China, Tianjin is the fourth largest municipality with a total population of more than 15 million people. Tianjin is a hub city for international shipping and logistics, manufacturing and research and development. Created in 2009, Tianjin Binhai New Area was designated by the Chinese government as a special Free Trade Zone. Binhai has an international seaport, and an international airport and is a 33-minute high-speed train ride from Beijing. There are 141 Global 500 companies with operations in the Binhai New Area.

As Partner and Chair of China Business Group and International Group for White and Williams, LLP, how do you view the potential for Greater Philadelphia businesses in the Chinese market?  
Over the past fifteen years, I have traveled to China on a regular basis, and have visited Tianjin on many occasions dating back to 2002.  The economic development in Tianjin is extraordinary.  Through the assistance of CDI and our Sister City program, White and Williams maintains a strong strategic alliance with Tianjin-based Winners Law Firm, now dating back seven years.  This is the type of cooperation we envision between member companies of the WTCGP and Tianjin WTC.  We had very productive conversations with the leadership of the Tianjin WTC during our June 1st meetings and we are working on several pilot business opportunities between our respective members.  With the strong Sister City relationship between Philadelphia and Tianjin, it is quite fitting that the WTCGP is moving forward in strengthening the business relationship with Tianjin WTC.  We are optimistic that this will lead to further commercial opportunities for the Greater Philadelphia region.

In early June, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, represented by board chairman Gary Biehn, signed into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with WTC Tianjin. The MOU will create a framework of cooperation which will seek to expand trade and investment in targeted sectors of opportunity, including healthcare, higher education, legal services, aviation, petrochemicals, metalworking, and the medical device sector. 

​As reported by the Philadelphia Business Journal: 

Biehn said the agreement is the culmination of a visit from Tianjin officials last June and a reciprocal visit in January in which the two sides talked about synergies among membership companies in areas such as health care, education, and legal and financial services. The deal will put Philadelphia on the map when the roughly 2,000 Tianjin WTA member companies that are looking for U.S. business opportunities. ​

VideoRay has just completed the delivery and training of the largest fleet of Mission Specialist Systems (MSS) to the Indian Navy.  This system, built to custom and exacting specifications, was a prime example of the flexibility inherent in the implementation of Mission Specialist vehicles.  Final delivery acceptance and training occurred in March.
 
Read More / VideoRay News Feed (via videoray.com)

​On May 18th, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported that the Philadelphia Department of Commerce will be participating in a three week trade and investment mission to Asia beginning May 23rd. 

Our hats are off not only to Dan Fitzpatrick and our honorees, DFT Inc. and Destination Maternity, but also to all of you who supported us! Thank you! 

Now how do we top this? ​

CONGRATULATIONS HONOREES!

After September 11, 2001, the World Trade Centers Association, in cooperation with the United Nations, chartered a day to be recognized around the world as "World Trade Centers Day." Each year, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia organizes an evening to celebrate the global achievements of regional companies and the contribution to economic growth and prosperity made by World Trade Centers throughout the globe. Past Honorees and Celebrations
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​THANK YOU TO OUR WORLD TRADE CENTERS DAY 2017 SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS!

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Member Company Sunhillo Corporation, of West Berlin, Camden County, was rated #11 in NJBIZ's 2017 ranking of the best small to medium sized companies to work at in NJ. As a global leader in surveillance data distribution and conversion products, Sunhillo Corporation has also been successful in keeping its employees happy since opening for business in 1991. Having grown to a team of just over fifty staff members, the firm recognizes that the best way to reward loyalty and performance is through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Plus, the company offers flexible work hours, holiday bonuses, recognition programs and community initiatives. View Rankings (njbiz.com)