Badal Saboo, Business Development – India & Asia Pacific at the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), in an exclusive interaction with Abhineet Kumar of Elets News Network, discusses how India’s Tier II and III cities are rapidly emerging as global trade hubs. He explains WTCA’s strategy in aligning with the Make in India initiative and the National Logistics Policy, the role of new WTC projects such as Nashik and Nhava Sheva, key international learnings, and how coordinated efforts can unlock the full trade potential of India’s regional industrial clusters. Edited excerpts:

How is WTCA strategically supporting India’s Tier II and III cities to evolve into global trade hubs, particularly in the context of ‘Make in India’ and the National Logistics Policy?

India’s Tier II and III cities are now the real drivers of industrial growth, and at the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), we see them as central to both “Make in India” and the National Logistics Policy (NLP). Our focus is to connect these emerging production centres to global markets through a combination of physical infrastructure and trade services.

First, we are deliberately expanding the World Trade Center (WTC) brand footprint beyond the metros. A large share of India’s existing and upcoming WTC projects are now located in emerging cities and logistics nodes such as Nashik, Thane, Kozhikode and Nhava Sheva. These locations sit along key freight corridors, industrial belts and port ecosystems, ensuring that a WTC is not just a landmark building but a genuine gateway to global trade.

Second, we complement India’s logistics and infrastructure push with “soft” trade infrastructure—export-readiness programmes for MSMEs, trade advisory services, market intelligence and B2B matchmaking across WTCA’s network of 300+ cities in nearly 100 countries/territories. This aligns closely with the NLP’s agenda of reducing logistics costs, improving reliability and enhancing multimodal connectivity.

Finally, by embedding WTC projects within SEZs, logistics parks and integrated townships—for example, WTC Nhava Sheva within the JNPA SEZ—we help create complete ecosystems where manufacturing, warehousing, trade facilitation and global networking come together on one integrated platform.

WTC Nashik and WTC Nhava Sheva mark significant milestones for WTCA in India. What specific capabilities or services will these centers offer to strengthen SME exports, logistics efficiency, and global connectivity?

WTC Nashik and WTC Nhava Sheva are designed as a “source and gateway” pair: Nashik is located near the manufacturing clusters, while Nhava Sheva is positioned at India’s primary container port.

At WTC Nashik, developed by Deepak Builders, the focus is on helping Nashik’s SMEs — in engineering, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and related sectors — become export-ready.
Its strategic location along key highway and expressway networks allows it to serve as a hub for:

• Export facilitation and trade services: SME export clinics, assistance with customs and certifications, and market-entry support through the WTCA network.
• Capacity building: Regular training on export documentation, standards, FTAs, digital trade, and supply-chain optimisation.
• Cluster promotion: Curated promotion of Nashik’s strengths (engineering, food processing, wine, etc.) to international buyers and investors.
  

WTC Nhava Sheva, developed by Welspun One Logistics Parks, is the “port-side engine” of this ecosystem.
It is a 55-acre Grade-A logistics and warehousing park within the JNPA SEZ in Navi Mumbai, offering multi-level (G+2) warehouse layouts with unidirectional ramps, designed by architects from Singapore, Japan and India.

The park will deliver approximately 3.6–4.5 million sq. ft. of built-up area, with plug-and-play, warm-shell infrastructure including racking, cold rooms, mezzanines and a dedicated container yard, along with 12 m clear height and FM2 flooring to support heavy loads and high throughput.

Located beside India’s largest container port at JNPA — which handles roughly 35% of the country’s containerised cargo — the park benefits from excellent multimodal connectivity.

For exporters and logistics users, the park offers:

• SEZ advantages: duty exemptions, zero GST, single-window clearances and operational flexibility, enhancing cost-efficiency and ease of doing business.
• On-site trade and support services: a mobile app for business services and track-and-trace, an on-site bank and ATM, a co-located customs office, an international compliance desk, cafeteria, guest house, staff transport, daycare, MHE on lease, and ample parking.
• Sustainability and resilience: solar-ready roofs, energy-efficient systems, EV charging, rainwater harvesting, STP, comprehensive flood-risk analysis and GHG reduction policies.
  

In simple terms, WTC Nashik will help SMEs produce and prepare for exports, while WTC Nhava Sheva will help them move and scale those exports efficiently through one of the world’s most important container gateways — all under the WTCA umbrella.

From WTCA’s global experience, what successful international case studies of industrial clusters in Tier II and III cities can India learn from to accelerate its own regional trade expansion?

Across the WTCA network, we see that regions outside traditional capital-city CBDs can become major trade hubs when they combine strong local industry with structured trade services and a high-quality, mixed-use real estate platform. Two examples that India can learn from are WTC Savannah (USA) and WTC Bengaluru (India).

WTC Savannah (USA)
Savannah is a port city and regional hub — not a mega-metro — yet WTC Savannah has positioned it as a globally connected trade and investment gateway. As the grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 104, it helps companies across coastal Georgia reduce costs and improve competitiveness through FTZ benefits, while also providing trade services, global education programs, trade missions and B2B matchmaking for regional SMEs. It works closely with the Savannah Economic Development Authority and 16 county-level partners, acting as the “missing link” connecting local industry to global markets.

WTC Bengaluru (India)
WTC Bengaluru is a strong example of how a WTC license can anchor a landmark real estate development and transform a micro-market into a premium business district. The tower is a 1.1 million sq. ft. Grade-A commercial building located within Brigade Gateway, a 40-acre integrated lifestyle enclave that includes the Sheraton Grand hotel, Orion Mall, Manipal Hospital, a school, club and residences. Beyond being an iconic office address, WTC Bengaluru provides international market research, business matchmaking, trade missions and networking events — effectively turning a single commercial asset into a full-fledged international business platform for the region.

For India’s emerging industrial belts and Tier II/III cities, the lesson is clear: pair sectoral strengths (manufacturing, technology, logistics, agro-processing) with a WTC-anchored, mixed-use real estate development supported by strong trade services. Whether in Nashik, Coimbatore, Indore or Kozhikode, a WTC business can simultaneously increase real estate value, attract global tenants and investors, and help local companies integrate into international value chains — transforming an industrial cluster into a recognised global trade hub.

Also Read: Gujrat on the Move: GSRTC’s Journey of Innovation, Sustainability, and Social Impact

As global supply chains diversify, what opportunities do India’s emerging industrial belts offer to international businesses, and how is WTCA enabling meaningful B2B connections in these regions?

The global shift towards a “China+1” strategy and more diversified supply chains presents a significant structural opportunity for India’s emerging industrial belts. For international businesses, these regions offer:

• Cost-competitive, scalable manufacturing bases across sectors such as auto components, renewables, food processing, textiles, engineering, IT, and electronics.
• Proximity to world-class logistics infrastructure, including ports like JNPA, new freight corridors, expressways, and integrated logistics parks. The Gateway – WTC Nhava Sheva is a strong example: an operator-neutral, SEZ-based logistics hub at India’s largest container port, with multi-level Grade-A warehousing and digital track-and-trace capabilities.
• Policy and regulatory advantages through SEZ frameworks, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and the National Logistics Policy, which emphasises multimodal connectivity and digitalisation.
  

On the connectivity side, WTCA is ensuring that these Indian industrial belts are visible to global decision-makers through platforms like the annual Global Business Forum (GBF). At the 2024 WTCA GBF in Bengaluru, we introduced structured B2B meetings within the Forum for the first time, which proved extremely valuable for both Indian and international participants. Building on that success, the upcoming 2026 WTCA GBF in Philadelphia, USA (April 19–22), will again feature curated B2B matchmaking with a strong focus on economic sectors highlighted during the 2025 WTCA Member Forum by WTC Greater Philadelphia President & CEO Thomas Young—including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, technology, and services. Many of these align closely with India’s priority sectors.

For Indian business delegations, participating in GBF Philadelphia is therefore a strategic opportunity to connect directly with U.S. and global partners across these focus sectors. For cities and developers, securing a WTC license provides a direct institutional bridge to global platforms—making it easier to build high-quality delegations, position projects before international investors, and convert interest into meaningful partnerships.

In practical terms, WTCA and local WTC businesses enable meaningful B2B connections by:

• Curating trade missions and GBF delegations focused on specific sectors and locations.
• Providing “landing pads” in WTC projects for foreign companies to establish a low-risk presence in new Indian industrial hubs.
• Leveraging the WTCA network across 300+ cities in nearly 100 countries/territories, ensuring that India’s industrial belts are not only producing for the world but actively co-creating value within global supply chains.
  

What challenges do Tier II and III cities typically face in positioning themselves as global trade hubs, and how can coordinated efforts between WTCA, industry, and government help overcome these barriers?

Tier II and III cities often possess strong fundamentals—industry, entrepreneurship, and talent—but still face four recurring challenges in becoming global trade hubs:

1. Infrastructure and logistics gaps: Inconsistent last-mile connectivity to ports, airports, and freight corridors; limited Grade-A warehousing; and fragmented multimodal options can undermine their competitiveness.
2. Soft infrastructure gaps: MSMEs may lack awareness of export procedures, quality standards, certifications, digital trade tools, and trade finance, making exporting appear complex and risky.
3. Limited global visibility: While investors and buyers recognise “India” and the major metros, cities such as Nashik, Indore, or Kozhikode often lack a clearly articulated international brand or value proposition.
4. Fragmented institutional efforts: Industry bodies, government departments, and service providers sometimes work in silos, resulting in duplicated efforts and missed synergies.
   

A coordinated WTCA–industry–government approach can transform this trajectory:

• WTC businesses as integrated platforms: By locating WTC projects within logistics parks, SEZs, and major industrial nodes—such as WTC Nhava Sheva within the JNPA SEZ—we create a single branded entry point that brings together infrastructure, trade facilitation, global networking, and business services.
• Joint export-readiness and capacity-building programmes: WTCA and local WTC businesses can co-develop initiatives with state governments, export promotion councils, and industry associations to help MSMEs transition systematically from domestic markets to global markets.
• Strategic city branding and promotion: Through global WTCA events, trade missions, and digital outreach, WTC businesses can help position these cities as credible investment and trade destinations rather than secondary industrial satellites.
  

In essence, Tier II and III cities need more than factories—they need global gateways. World Trade Center (WTC) businesses, working closely with industry and government, are designed to play exactly that role.

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