Each quarter, World Trade Center San Diego delivers the latest global news and updates straight to your inbox.
In Q3 2025, here’s what you need to know about San Diego’s global trade, investment, and engagement. ➝ Get WTCSD’s Global Brief each quarter.
Op-ed: Global engagement does a world of good for San Diego
In recent years, Mayor Todd Gloria has led World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD)’s trade missions to South Korea and the Netherlands to grow jobs, strengthen economic partnerships, and attract foreign investment such as San Diego’s new direct flight to Amsterdam. Next week, Mayor Gloria will join Representative Scott Peters to lead WTCSD’s trade mission to France to spotlight the impact of San Diego innovation, including our region’s role in fusion energy collaboration at ITER, and reinforce the global ties that are key to San Diego’s economic future.
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Aquacycl wins $25K MetroConnect export grand prize
WTCSD—home of San Diego’s Export Small Business Development Center—named Escondido’s Aquacycl as the winner of the MetroConnect export accelerator program‘s seventh cohort. The small, woman-founded company provides industrial wastewater treatment as a service to reduce costs and environmental impact. Made possible through a grant from JPMorganChase, Booz Allen, and Deloitte, Aquacycl will use the $25,000 award to expand its presence in Europe and Mexico with its patented BETT system and micro-aeration solutions.
➝ Learn More About Going Global with MetroConnect
With WTCSD support, SAN launches direct flight to Panama via Copa Airlines
After more than a decade of planning and support from WTCSD, San Diego International Airport and Copa Airlines launched a nonstop flight to Panama in June 2025. The year-round route will operate four days a week, providing quicker access to Central and South America, and includes a stopover program allowing passengers to explore Panama for seven days before reaching their final destination.
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San Diego News
- Switzerland’s Novartis invests $1.1B in San Diego, signs Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ largest-ever life sciences lease
- General Atomics completes novel fusion energy magnet for ITER project in France
- Cross Border Xpress debuts first-ever land border crossing biometric tech
- Sempra lands liquefied natural gas deal with Japan’s biggest power generator
- MetroConnect VI winner Access Trax named among Forbes Accessibility 100
- UC San Diego, ITJ partner on Tijuana innovation education hub
- Kumquat Bio inks $1.3B deal with Germany-based Bayer
- Debut Biotechnology secures $20M in funding for AI skincare innovation, Singapore expansion
- Lineage Cell Therapeutics lands $12M partnership with Danish hearing healthcare company Demant A/S
Events
- Oct. 1 – ITJ Innovation Tech Tour
- Oct. 16 – San Diego Business Impact Awards
- Nov. 5-10 – California Pavilion at China International Import Expo
World Trade Center San Diego works directly with companies—free of charge—to help them expand internationally and grow in San Diego.
- Export Specialty Center: For small companies interested in learning about exporting and international growth.
- MetroConnect: For small and medium-sized companies ready to export and grow internationally.
➝ Get WTCSD’s Global Brief delivered straight to your inbox.
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- A note from Nikia: WTCSD on trade
- Export SBDC at WTCSD helped eight companies win $42K in STEP grants
- Rep. Peters, Mayor Gloria to lead France trade mission to strengthen economic ties with EU