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IVLP Highlight: American Foreign Policy Delegation from Germany

From December 7-11, 2024, Global Ties San Francisco hosted the American Foreign Policy, Economic Security, and the People’s Republic of China delegation from Germany on behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and in partnership with World Learning.

During their stay in the San Francisco Bay Area, thirteen German academics, policy experts, journalists, and business representatives met with local Bay Area organizations to better understand American foreign policy and factors that shape economic security, to gain a West Coast perspective on U.S.-China trade relations, to engage with the local Chinese diaspora, and to ultimately bring back valuable insights to their respective regions in Germany.

Professional Highlights

A standout experience for the international visitors was their meeting with Mr. Ron Brown, a Maritime Marketing and Commodities representative at the Port of Oakland. Drawing upon Mr. Brown’s in-depth knowledge of local trade and commerce channels, our visitors explored how the Port of Oakland contributes to the economic viability and strength of the region by serving as one of California’s largest container ports and a critical export gateway for agricultural and refrigerated products from the region.

Visitors explore the Port of Oakland with Ron Brown

The discussion inspired insightful questions from the visitors, such as how the pandemic affected the Port’s operations, global trade partner relations, and the Port’s efforts to make operations more sustainable.

The visitors also enjoyed a tour and first-hand look at the Port’s efforts to become a zero-emissions seaport, with notable sights including state-of-the-art hybrid electric cranes.

Another professional meeting was the group’s discussion with Mr. Douglas Wallace, Director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center at the U.S. Commercial Service – San Francisco Office. The meeting examined the role of the U.S. Commercial Service in supporting local businesses’ efforts to expand internationally, particularly in the areas of economic development and security. Additionally, participants gained exposure to the greater U.S. Commercial Service ecosystem, which includes more than 100 U.S. Commercial Service offices nationwide and more than 70 international offices. Overall, the meeting helped contextualize economic services provided by the U.S federal government on the local level in California.

Other professional highlights included connecting the international visitors with the local Chinese diaspora and Asian American community artists through a visit to a cultural center, a meeting with notable scholars from the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and a discussion with SEMI—a global microelectronics industry association.

Cultural Experiences

Beyond professional appointments, the visitors further enriched their understanding of the U.S. by sharing a meal with San Franciscans through Global Ties San Francisco’s Home Hospitality program.
“An unforgettable experience!”

In addition, the visitors also attended a Guided City Tour of San Francisco, exploring the beauty and most iconic sites that make San Francisco the famous “City by the Bay!”

Supporting People-to-People Diplomacy

Through successful IVLP programming like this project for Germany, Global Ties San Francisco aims to fulfill the mission of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program by connecting emerging foreign leaders to the United States to engage in people-to-people diplomacy, foster professional international relationships, and inspire strong global partnerships.

Authors: Karin Krisdiva, Fall 2024 Intern; Oli Vorster, International Program Coordinator

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Event Highlight: Accelerating Automotive Advances in AI, Cybersecurity, and Big Data

Global Ties San Francisco recently attended the Trade Horizons event, “Accelerating Automotive Advances in AI, Cybersecurity, and Big Data: A German–U.S. Lens,” at SAP in Palo Alto, California (Silicon Valley).

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German Park Rangers Visit California

In October 2016, Global Ties San Francisco hosted the Our Planet: National Parks and National Monuments in the United States delegation from Germany. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin and administered by Cultural Vistas, this exchange sought to provide German park rangers with a deeper understanding of how the U.S. National Park System manages biodiversity, information and education, and history and culture preservation throughout its collection of parks. Coinciding with the centennial of the U.S. National Park Service, this 2016 study and exchange trip featured an interdisciplinary group of eight representatives of German national parks, EUROPARC Deutschland, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over twelve days, the group traveled to Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California, visiting several historical sites and national monuments along the way.

Our Planet Natl Parks

Global Ties San Francisco arranged the group’s discussions on preservation, park management and strategic partnerships, public relations, community engagement and education, and youth stewardship with professional peers at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy — both headquartered at Fort Mason, a former U.S. military installment — and at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The visit also included hospitality and cultural programming for the group — starting with an afternoon taking in the grandeur of Muir Woods National Monument, named after naturalist John Muir.

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