WHEREAS, nearly 300,000 North Carolinians go to work each day in foreign-owned companies, and the value of goods exported from North Carolina reached a record $33.4 billion in 2021, an increase of nearly 17 percent over 2020; agricultural exports surpassed $3.5 billion in 2020, and nearly 23,000 international students attend North Carolina’s colleges and universities, contributing $713 million to the state’s economy; and
WHEREAS, successful global engagement requires the support of leaders in education from preschool through college, including public, private and community colleges; business; state, county, and local government; and the community, including non-profits, who all play a critical role in advancing global engagement in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, leaders across all sectors must collaborate to maintain a seat at the global table and provide job security for our children and future generations; and
WHEREAS, global engagement is the process of strategically connecting and collaborating with other peoples and nations to increase knowledge of diverse cultures and expand economic, educational, social, and political relationships and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, improving economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians depends on effectively engaging the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is the first state to formalize a bipartisan private and public sector partnership of leaders from a variety of industries, the NC Coalition for Global Competitiveness, to foster thought leadership and serve as a catalyst for our statewide vision for global engagement; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is the first state to develop a detailed plan, the NC Blueprint for Global Engagement, to guide progress toward global engagement across all sectors – education, business, government, and community; and
WHEREAS, global partnerships and trust are key to building a resilient future for all North Carolinians;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2023, as “GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.