Establishes an international division within the department of state to establish and maintain international sister state relationships

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends Section 92 of the Executive Law to include the director of the International Division as one of the appointees of the Secretary of State. A new section 108 is added to the Executive Law to establish the new international division within the Department of State. It defines the role of the division to be soliciting, establishing and maintaining sister state relation between New York and states in other countries. This will be done through a partnership with the department of economic development by establishing a network of information resources. The focus will be on international exchange of commerce, education, and culture.

Section 2 of the bill amends Section 355 of the Education Law to direct the State University Trustees to work in cooperation with the international division to establish, facilitate and maintain the exchange of students and faculty with such sister states.

Section 3 of the bill adds Section 226 to the Economic Development Law to provide that the provisions of Article 10 (International Trade) shall be implemented by the Commissioner of Economic Development in consultation with the international division.

Section 4 of the bill provides that the act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

A Sister State Program was enacted in the State of Maryland in 1980 to establish a forum for cooperation and to build mutual understanding. It serves as a conduit for cultural, commercial and economic exchange between states from different countries and the state of Maryland. Maryland has ten sister states in ten different countries (China. France, Liberia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Poland, Belgium, Brazil, and South Korea). Other states also adopted a Sister State Program, including Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Arkansas, Ohio, and Hawaii.

The State of Maryland benefits from foreign investment to boost its economy. According to the International Trade Administration, in

2008, foreign-controlled companies employed 108,600 Maryland workers. Major sources of foreign investment in Maryland in 2008 included Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. Foreign investment in Maryland was responsible for 5.1 percent of the state's total private-industry employment in 2008. The state's largest market in 2009 was Canada, which received exports of $1.3 billion, or 14% of the state's 2009 total. Canada was followed by China ($566 million). Egypt ($478 million), Mexico ($430 million), and Sweden ($399 million).

New York State had previous experience with a similar program under Governor Mario Cuomo. The program was called the "International Partner Program" and it was administered by the New York State Department of Economic Development. The program had a great success and built partnerships with states from China, Israel, Italy, and Poland. However, the program stopped after Governor Mario Cuomo left office in 1994.

Given the economic potentials of the State of New York, the Sister State Program would be invaluable in promoting trade and economic development with foreign states. Building on the existing robust foreign investment arena, New York can increase its share of foreign investment-related employment by attracting business from foreign states with a high economic potential. The international division will coordinate this exchange by reaching out to states that have the potential to invest in New York. Further, the same division will serve as the mediator between the different state and local commissions, agencies, and authorities and the foreign investors to facilitate the administrative procedures.

The Sister States Program can also build on the cosmopolitan nature of New York State to establish a bridge between the US and the rest of the world. The cultural exchange that this division will undertake is critical to building mutual understanding. New York State has always been a place where different cultures and faiths coexisted. This division shall spread this spirit of tolerance to other parts of the world and build stronger cultural' ties with foreign states.

The division will also serve as an international education pioneer for New York State. Through a partnership with the State University of New York International Program Office, the division will break new ground to attract students from local universities of partnering states to boost an already outstanding international program that currently attracts 16,000 international students. Further, the division will work with existing programs at SUNY to attract scholars and professors from foreign universities to enrich the educational system of SUNY and promote its scientific research programs.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately.