Registration is OPEN for the 2025 Global Trade Summit at Bryant University!
 
Presented by the John H. Chafee Center for International Business, the Global Trade Summit (formerly known as World Trade Day) serves as New England’s premier event dedicated to shaping the future of international trade.
 
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 25 – Friday, Sept. 26
TICKETS: $250 (grants admission for both days)
SPONSORSHIP: Please contact Lisa DeVos at ldevos@bryant.edu if your company is interested in exploring sponsorship opportunities.
REGISTER: Registration is open; click here to reserve your spot!
 
Featuring a series of panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, the two-day conference will focus on how international commerce is being reshaped by geopolitical shifts, artificial intelligence, and changes in U.S. trade policy.
 
A full agenda of the conference can be found here; highlights include:
 

• Keynote address from James W. Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, who will offer his unique perspective on innovation, global markets, and lessons learned from leading two of the world’s most recognized retail brands through changing market landscapes.
• A diplomatic panel on global trade perspectives featuring consulate representatives from the U.K., Canada, and other nations.
• Sessions on AI’s impact on international business; practical workshops on logistics, export strategy, and financing; and breakout sessions highlighting foreign direct investment opportunities in key Rhode Island industries such as life sciences, the ocean economy and food manufacturing.
• A panel featuring Rhode Island's congressional delegation, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, will offer insights on federal trade policy, global relationships, and support for American businesses.