World Trade Center chief to visit Hull ahead of event bid

Eric R Dahl, of the New York-based organisation, is visiting the city ahead of the World Trade Centre Hull & Humber’s bid to host the General Assembly as a City of Culture legacy event in 2018.

Hull has been named City of Culture for 2017.

The General Assembly, which attracts hundreds of delegates from more than 90 countries, has been held in Mumbai and Bucharest over the last two years.

Lindsay West, a director of the World Trade Centre, said that Hull could put forward a strong case after its successful switch four years ago from being publicly-funded to a not-for-profit organisation.

“This has been key,” he said. “When we moved to near Humber Street four years ago the area was very different from how it is now, it was extremely quiet and was suffering from the fallout of the global recession.

“The move showed the business community’s commitment to regeneration and it significantly raised the profile and potential of this part of the city.

“It is all about regenerating the economy through stimulating business, which the World Trade Centers Association does on a global scale.

“Having the General Assembly here would be another major boost for the economy of the entire region.”