N.C. Coalition for Global Competitiveness

The N.C. Coalition for Global Competitiveness (“the Coalition”) is working to make North Carolina a globally competitive state recognized around the world as a premier place to invest, work, study, visit, partner, and live. Through collaboration across sectors, the Coalition advances North Carolina’s global engagement and economic competitiveness for the benefit of all North Carolinians.

The N.C. Coalition for Global Competitiveness is a statewide public-private partnership that brings together leaders from business, education, government, agriculture, economic development, and nonprofit organizations across North Carolina. Coordinated by Global NC, the Coalition is co-chaired by North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler. Founded in 2013 by former North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain, the Coalition works to strengthen North Carolina’s position in the global economy through collaboration and strategic leadership.

The Coalition serves as a catalyst for statewide thought leadership and collaboration around North Carolina’s global competitiveness. Its work focuses on advancing international trade, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), strengthening workforce development, and expanding global engagement to create jobs, increase economic opportunity, and improve quality of life throughout North Carolina. By connecting leaders across sectors, the Coalition helps ensure the state remains competitive in an increasingly interconnected world.

N.C. Blueprint for Global Engagement

The Coalition developed the N.C. Blueprint for Global Engagement ( 2015, 2020, and 2025) along with N.C.’s Global Engagement Snapshot, providing North Carolina with both a long-term strategic roadmap and an online measurement tool to strengthen global engagement across the state.

North Carolina became the first state in the nation to create a comprehensive roadmap for global engagement spanning education, business, government, and community organizations. Together, the Blueprint and Snapshot help leaders coordinate efforts, measure progress, and identify opportunities to strengthen North Carolina’s competitiveness in the global economy.

The N.C. Blueprint for Global Engagement 2025 (“the Blueprint”) was shaped through input from leaders across North Carolina representing business, education, government, nonprofits, and community organizations. The Blueprint identifies five strategic priorities that will strengthen North Carolina’s global competitiveness and international engagement:

Leadership
Communication and Partnerships
Global Infrastructure and Logistics
Global Economic Development
Cross-Cultural Competence

Together, these strategic priorities provide a framework for increasing North Carolina’s global engagement and preparing communities, businesses, and institutions to compete successfully in an interconnected world.

N.C.’s Global Engagement Snapshot (“the Snapshot”) is an interactive online tool designed to benchmark and coordinate North Carolina’s global engagement efforts. The Snapshot is organized around the five strategic areas identified in the N.C. Blueprint for Global Engagement 2020, providing a framework for measuring the state’s progress toward greater global competitiveness.

As the first tool of its kind, the Snapshot serves as a clearinghouse for global engagement data, enabling leaders across North Carolina to monitor trends, track progress, and identify opportunities to strengthen the state’s international engagement on an ongoing basis.