Where business and diplomacy meet: Utah’s inaugural Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit
Photo credit: Ashlee Buchholz
On May 22–23, 2024, World Trade Center Utah and Zions Bank hosted the inaugural Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit. Held during World Trade Week, the two-day event brought together over 900 participants, businesses, global leaders, and industry experts.
The first day of the event kicked off with Trade Day, an exclusive forum that aimed to expand global networks and directly connect international investors with Utah companies. Hosted at Zions Bancorporation’s Midvale Technology Center, the day included a morning session, key industry breakouts, and an afternoon matchmaking event.
The following day, the gathering convened at the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. The packed agenda included former leaders from across the globe, including 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush, former Mexican President Vicente Fox, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
“This name [Crossroads of the World] is not just symbolic. It represents our shared vision at World Trade Center Utah — to make our state a global intersection for diverse cultures, innovative ideas, and thriving businesses,” said WTC Utah President and CEO Jonathan Freedman during his opening remarks. “Through meaningful dialogue and shared experiences, we aspire to inspire and motivate each other to push boundaries and explore new opportunities in international trade.”
Utah & International Trade
Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, kicked off the morning with an in-depth look at Utah’s international trade activity. Notably, Utah ranks 16th in the nation for exports per capita and as a percent of the economy. That’s a “pretty big punch,” Gochnour explained, given that the Beehive State only ranks 30th in population size and 29th in economic size.
Gochnour also highlighted Utah’s largest export partners according to 2023 data, which included the United Kingdom (by a large margin), Canada, Mexico, China, and Japan. The economic impact of these exports created an estimated $16.7 billion in output, $8 billion in GDP, $4 billion in earnings, and 71,891 jobs.
The Power of North America
The morning plenary session featured remarks from former Mexican President Vicente Fox (2000-2006), and former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (2006-2015). Both leaders provided insight on the necessity of unity between the three North American countries, pointing to the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and subsequent United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“We have moved the world economy to new heights through trading,” Fox said of the mutually beneficial partnership.
Harper echoed the sentiment, stating that the U.S. should not look at Canada and Mexico as trade adversaries, but as trade allies — and an important alternative to China.
“China only buys from any of us because they absolutely need our products,” Harper said. “If we work together, we can mitigate their periodic ban efforts.”
Remarks from George W. Bush, 43rd President
The summit’s highly anticipated keynote speaker was none other than former President George W. Bush, who led the United States for two terms from 2001–2009. His presidency overlapped with the leadership of both President Fox and Prime Minister Harper, and Bush recalled his previous interactions with both former leaders fondly.
The 43rd president also shared his insights leading the country through the terrorist attacks of 9/11, reflecting on the tragedy and emphasizing the extraordinary unity which followed.
Breakout Sessions
The summit also heard from industry experts from companies including Allbirds, Black Diamond, NYSE Group, Priceline, Savage, Strider Technologies, and Traeger. During both a morning and afternoon breakout, participants chose from several different sessions featuring moderated discussions on relevant business and trade topics. Topics ranged from market diversification and supply chain resilience to global monetization and economic trends.
Africa, Türkiye, and a TV Star
The afternoon plenary session began with yet another global presence, former Senegalese President Macky Sall (2012-2024). Fresh off his two-term service in the western African country, Sall had a vital piece of advice for those looking to expand their businesses into the continent: “Learn and go.”
Following Sall's remarks, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Jeffry Flake took the stage to discuss Türkiye’s role as a bridge between East and West. The Ambassador explored Türkiye’s relationship with the United States, its role in NATO, and potential opportunities for U.S. businesses.
The international trade summit also heard from Bear Grylls, a globally- renowned adventurer and entrepreneur best known his TV show “Man vs Wild.” The TV host shared insights from his expeditions, survival missions, and ventures — explaining that the lessons of determination and teamwork don’t apply just to adventuring, but also any difficult endeavor such as international trade.
A Successful Summit
The packed day closed with remarks from WTC Utah Chair Emeritus Jon Huntsman, who thanked the participants, speakers, and presenters who made the day of collaboration possible.
“We have an opportunity collectively as a state to come together through gatherings like this — to overcome misunderstandings, to plan about the future,” said Jon Huntsman during his closing remarks. “We are creating the most enviable growth model in the world right here.”
ABOUT WORLD TRADE CENTER UTAH
World Trade Center Utah is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate growth for Utah companies through our global network, programs, and services. Utah was the fastest-growing state in the U.S. from 2010 to 2020 and ranked the nation’s best state overall by U.S. News and World Report in May 2024. Officially joining the World Trade Center Association in 2007, the organization has helped companies throughout the state actualize their global potential and was recognized by the U.S. President with the 2021 President’s “E” Award for Export Service — the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. For more information, visit wtcutah.com or follow @WTCUtah on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
