Global Ties San Francisco

 

International Exchanges

Global Ties San Francisco, a division of World Trade Center Northern California, is a community-based member of the Global Ties U.S. Network. This office opened in December 2013 to implement the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each year, Global Ties San Francisco hosts over 700 international visitors in the Bay Area for short-term professional and diplomatic exchanges addressing key global topics like cybersecurity, technological advancement, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, and trade.

Through these short-term visits, current and emerging foreign leaders exchange cutting-edge information with their professional counterparts in the Bay Area, experience local culture, and cultivate lasting relationships with American citizens. As a result of this work, Global Ties San Francisco brings nearly $1.3 million to the local economy annually.

 

Top Program Areas for San Francisco Visitors

  • Cybersecurity & Technological Advancement
  • Civil Society, Human Rights & Grassroots Advocacy
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Environmental Protection & Climate Change
  • U.S. Foreign Policy & Trade Relations
  • Energy Security & Policy
  • Women in Leadership
  • Journalism, New Media & Disinformation
 

Regional Impact

In addition to arranging professional itineraries, Global Ties San Francisco secures hotel rooms, charters transportation companies, and books various cultural activities in the local community, which brings interest and income from tourism to the region.

In 2013, Global Ties San Francisco hosted over 1,000 international visitors, generating more than $6 million for the San Francisco Bay Area through hotel nights, tourist attraction visits, transportation, and food. Regional volunteers also donated over 14,000 hours of service to assist our mission.

 

How Can You Get Involved?

 

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by members of Global Ties U.S.