Representatives from embassies across Washington, D.C., pose for the opening ceremony of the 11th Annual Winternational Embassy Showcase at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. (AFRO Photos/ Wanda Watts)

By Wanda Watts
Special to the AFRO

On Dec. 5, a few of us Baltimoreans took the Marc Train from West Baltimore to Washington, D.C.’s Union Station to attend “Winternational,” the 11th Annual Embassy Showcase, which offers a one-of-a-kind, global marketplace featuring representatives from over 60 embassies and cultural organizations promoting travel, tourism and trade through vibrant and interactive displays of their countries’ visual art, cuisine and handcrafts. Presented by World Trade Center Washington, D.C. (WTCDC), the event registration was free. 

Participants show off their cultural costumes. (AFRO Photos/ Wanda Watts)
The Embassy of Cameroon was one of the 68 embassies and cultural organizations to show off their unique heritages at the Winternational. (AFRO Photos/ Wanda Watts)

Winternational’s lively midday celebration invited the region to experience the world right in the nation’s capital at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC). Last hosted in 2019 when it welcomed over 5,000 guests, this year the event attracted at least 8,000 attendees, including business people, community members and school children on field trips who shopped in the marketplace for artisanal goods like Peruvian jewelry and hats, or hand-carved Kenyan wood sculptures; sampled delicacies like Turkish coffee, Jamaican rum cakes and beef patties, Uzbek plov rice, or Moldovan cookies and sweets; and explored countries’ exhibits, featuring arts and culture, commodities, travel and diaspora communities in traditional dress like the elaborate carnival masks and costumes presented by Bolivia. 

“Winternational is a vibrant celebration of culture, diplomacy, and connection,” said Allyson Browne McKithen, executive director of World Trade Center Washington, D.C., vice president of International Programs for TCMA, and the event’s founder. “With over 8,000 attendees and 68 embassies and cultural organizations represented, this year’s event showcased the power of global collaboration and the impact of cultural exchange to bring people together. Only possible in Washington, it provides a unique opportunity to explore the richness of traditions from around the world while fostering deeper understanding and relationships across nations. Winternational serves as a reminder that through shared experiences, we can build lasting bridges that connect us all.”

Countries from the Caribbean were well represented. (AFRO Photos/ Wanda Watts)

Some of the participating embassies and organizations this year were: African Union, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain,  Barbados, Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, European Union, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ibero American Cultural Attache Association, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kandahar Treasure, Kenya, Korean Cultural Center, Kuwait, League of Arab States, Lebanon,  Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco,  Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Organization of American States, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and  Nevis, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkiye, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe. 

“Each year, Winternational continues to grow and thrive, welcoming more countries, exhibitors, and visitors,” said John P. Drew, president and CEO of Trade Center Management Associates, the exclusive manager of RRB/ITC. “This annual showcase has become a cornerstone event for international diplomacy in Washington, providing a unique platform for cultural exchange, trade, and tourism promotion. This year, we’re proud to have many sister world trade centers join us, further strengthening our network and mission of making the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center a destination for global commerce and cultural dialogue.”

A booth for the embassy of Egypt shows off a delicious selection of foods. (AFRO Photos/ Wanda Watts)
A mini global village was created at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Dec. 5. (AFRO Photos/ Wanda Watts)

World Trade Center Washington, D.C. is part of the World Trade Centers Association, which  includes the World Trade Center in Baltimore City’s Inner Harbor on Pratt Street and a  worldwide network of over 320 business centers, professionals and organizations, across 90 countries, that seek to accelerate business growth and prosperity, and strengthen the global  community. 

To check out their vast array of events visit, https://rrbitc.com/real-events/.

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