Overview

Governors play an important diplomatic and leadership role in states' international trade and competitiveness by leading activities to unite state clusters, trade associations, universities, businesses, and state agencies. Governors lead not only within their states, but also internationally as state diplomats. They head trade missions abroad and welcome foreign business and trade leaders to build networks that are indispensable for expanding U.S. trade.

Governors' roles in promoting global integration are of increasingly important as companies expand across national borders and states establish trade offices around the world to support trade relationships and partnerships. Under the direction of their governors, state agencies for international trade promote their states' small businesses and facilitate trade via market research and operational assistance.

Governors are vital to states' international relationships and trade. They are particularly able to leverage state investments with federal, private, and non-profit funds to expand states' foreign direct investment that supported more than 5 million U.S. jobs in 2004.

The NGA Center for Best Practices shares current state policies and expert knowledge to provide governors and their policy advisors with options to compete in the international economy. Policy areas include:

• Asserting leadership;
• Using arts & culture to promote trade;
• Cluster strategies to strengthen state industries;
• Indices to measure progress; and
• Higher education and training for a competitive workforce.