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Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs

Welcome to the Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs. 

Reta Jo Lewis was named by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as the United States Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs on January 26, 2010. The Special Representative serves the global needs of U.S. intergovernmental officials and their counterparts abroad so they can collaborate on international issues such as trade, investment and economic development, energy, climate change, urbanization, citizen security, and global health.

Date: 05/02/2013 Description: Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis delivering remarks at the World Cultural Economic Forum in New Orleans, Lousiana. - State Dept Image World Cultural Economic Forum
Special Representative Lewis addressed a plenary session at the 2013 World Cultural Economic Forum in New Orleans on May 2, 2013. The Forum convenes leaders from cities around the world to shape the international discussion on culture.  Full Text»
Date: 04/16/2013 Description: Chinese President Xi Jinping (front C) meets with U.S. and Chinese governors at the third U.S.-China Governors Forum in Beijing, China, April 16, 2013. NGA photo © NGA Photo U.S.-China Governors Forum
Special Representative Lewis traveled to Beijing and Tianjin, China, to attend the U.S.-China Governors Forum, April 15-16. In Beijing, Special Representative Lewis addressed the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.  Full Text»  Media Note»  DipNote»
Date: 04/11/2013 Description: Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis delivers remarks in Charleston, SC. - State Dept Image Engaging With Global Communities
Special Representative Lewis discussed diplomacy and statecraft with members of the Charleston, SC community at the Charleston Library Society Wide Angle Luncheon on April 11, 2013.  Full Text»
Date: 02/27/2013 Description: Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis participates on a panel at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. - State Dept Image U.S.-Brazil Cooperation
On February 27, 2013, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Americas Program and Project on Prosperity and Development hosted Ambassador to Brazil Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. and Special Representative Lewis for a discussion on Promoting Growth Through Brazil’s Major Sporting Events.  Event Audio»
Date: 12/18/2012 Description: Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis (r) with Johanna Mendelson Forman at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. - State Dept Image Advancing Global Collaboration at the Local Level
Under the innovative leadership of Secretary Clinton and the State Department's Office of Global Intergovernmental Affairs, we have broken new ground on interregional cooperation. From India to Brazil to Russia -- subnational engagement and people-to-people exchanges have fast become a substantial stimulus for economic modernization in areas where the traditional forum of action, our central government, has been unable to act. CSIS: Podcast»  Blog»  Event Audio»
Date: 12/07/2012 Description: Special Representative Lewis delivers remarks at an ICLEI side event at COP-18, December 7, 2012. - State Dept Image COP-18: Forum on Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development at the Subnational Level
Special Representative Lewis traveled to Doha, Qatar, December 6-8, 2012, to serve as a member of the U.S. delegation to the 18th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-18). Special Representative Lewis engaged global state and local leaders through an outreach event on issues surrounding sustainability and climate change at the U.S. Center ion Doha. She also addressed an ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) side event in Doha.  Doha Remarks»  More»
Date: 12/05/2012 Location: Beijing, China Description: (l-r) U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, and Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs at the Ambassador's Investment Forum. - State Dept Image U.S.-China Subnational Engagement
"All of our 50 states and five territories welcome your interest in investing in America."  Investment Forum Reception:  Full Text»  More»
Date: 11/19/2012 Description: Special Representative Lewis addresses program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center Kennan Institute, November 19, 2012. - State Dept Image U.S.-Russia Subnational Engagement: Connecting Markets and Communities
Special Representative Lewis (Nov. 19): "From the New START, to the work done to support Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization—we’ve established robust channels of cooperation, wherein issues of trade and investment, science and technology, security and stability, are all discussed at an intensive level in order to write the next chapter of growth for our two nations."  Full Text»  DipNote»  More»
Date: 11/26/2012 Description: Delivering Results for the American People (FY2012 Agency Financial Report); Advancing Global Collaboration at the Local Level (screenshot) - State Dept Image Advancing Global Collaboration at the Local Level
The Department of State has been a value-added partner to U.S. governors in the design and execution of their international trade and investment missions that expand exports and investment opportunities and educational ties. The Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs will continue to leverage its resources and relationships to support economic development at home and abroad and to build stable, secure and prosperous societies.  Full Text»  Full Report»
U.S.-China Subnational Engagement
Special Representative Lewis traveled to China, September 3-15, 2012, to promote subnational partnerships.  She visited the cities of Beijing, Chengdu and Guangshou.  In Chengdu, Special Representative Lewis delivered remarks to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) Friendship City Conference. Special Representative Lewis' Remarks»  Media Note»  More»
Date: 08/23/2012 Description: Special Representative Lewis meets with Mr. Luis Fernandes, Brazilian Deputy Minister of Sport (left) with Mr. Todd Chapman, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Brasilia (right); in Brasilia. - State Dept Image U.S.-Brazil Subnational Engagement
Special Representative Lewis traveled to Brazil, August 20-24, 2012 to promote subnational engagement and to participate in a technical meeting of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.  Full Text»  Media Note»
Date: 07/30/2012 Description: Special Representative Lewis meets with Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Travnikov, Russian Ministry of Regional Development. - State Dept Image U.S.-Russia Subnational Engagement
Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis traveled to Russia, July 21-31, 2012, to promote subnational cooperation. She visited oblasts and cities throughout Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Vladivostok.   DipNote Entry» More» YouTube Video»
Date: 06/14/2012 Description: Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis during her visit to ACMinas in Brazil. - State Dept Image Global Economic Statecraft Day
June 14, 2012: Local Economies are the Building Blocks of the National Economy: Secretary Clinton’s Economic Statecraft initiative places local and national economic prosperity at the center of U.S. foreign policy. It calls upon each of our embassies, Department bureaus and offices to leverage its resources and relationships to support economic development at home and abroad. The work of the Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs is critical to this effort as our work with elected officials at the state and local levels, and their public and private stakeholders drives the formation of critical partnerships that support economic development and jobs creation.  Remarks»
Wisdom Session on Diversity, Inclusion, and U.S. Foreign Policy
June 7, 2012: Special Representative Lewis delivered closing remarks on the important global role that diversity and inclusion leaders play in buidling partnerships with state and local governments. The event was held at the State Department.  Full Text»
Date: 06/02/2012 Description: Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis delivers remarks at the 38th Annual National Conference for Black Mayors in Atlanta, Georgia. - State Dept Image 38th Annual Convention of the National Conference of Black Mayors
June 2, 2012: Special Representative Lewis delivered remarks addressing the conference's theme, "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" in Atlanta, Georgia.  Full Text»
Date: 05/30/2012 Description: Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis joined Washington, DC's Mayor Vincent Gray during the signing ceremony for a sister city agreement with Bangkok, Thailand. - State Dept Image Washington, D.C.-Bangkok Sister City Agreement
May 18, 2012: Special Representative Lewis participated with Washington, DC's Mayor Vincent Gray in the signing ceremony for the sister city agreement with Bangkok, Thailand.  Full Text»
Date: 05/03/2012 Description: Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis speaks with an attendee of the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. - State Dept Image 2012 Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Conference
Apr. 22, 2012: Special Representative Lewis led a delegation of young U.S. political leaders to Copenhagen, Denmark to participate in the 2012 Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Conference.  Remarks» Blog»
Date: 03/13/2012 Description: Ambassador Steve Nolan, Director of South African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs (center, left) and Special Representative Lewis (center, right) offer welcoming remarks to program participants and panelists. - State Dept Image Leveraging Sister City Relationships as a Driver of Economic Growth
Mar. 13: The Office of Global Intergovernmental Affairs partnered with Sister Cities International and the Bureau of African Affairs to host a “Smart Partnership Dialogue: Global Engagement Series” that brought together U.S. and South African state and local officials. The group discussed how to leverage the economic benefits of strong city-to-city relationships. DipNote Blog by Special Representative Lewis>>
Date: 03/13/2012 Description: Special Representative Lewis and Professor Oliver Stuenkel address students at Fundacao Getulio Vargas. - State Dept Image Subnational Engagement as a 21st Century Foreign Policy Tool
Mar. 27: Special Representative Lewis spoke to Brazilian students in Sao Paulo about the growing role of state and municipal governments in foreign relations. Remarks>>
The Role of Cities on the Road to Rio+20
Date: 03/08/2012 Description: Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, and Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City © OECD Mar. 8: Special Representative Lewis traveled to Chicago for the OECD Roundtable of Mayors and Ministers, where she highlighted the importance of cities in the creation of a sustainable future. Remarks to the OECD Roundtable of Mayors and Ministers»
The Road to Rio: Regions Building the Green Economy
Date: 03/07/2012 Description: Special Representative Lewis delivers remarks on the role of cities in creating a sustainable future at ''The Road to Rio'' Conference in Geneva. © Carla O'DonnellMar. 7: Special Representative Lewis delivers remarks on the role of cities in creating a sustainable future at “The Road to Rio” Conference at the Geneva International Conference Center in Geneva, Switzerland.
Chinese Vice President Xi’s U.S. Visit Offers Opportunities for State-to-State Engagement
Date: 02/24/2012 Description: California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. speaks with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in California, February 17, 2012. © Official State of California photo/ Used by Permission Feb. 24: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping wrapped up a five-day trip to the United States last week with a stop in Los Angeles that included meetings with state and local officials and private sector leaders.  DipNote Blog by Special Representative Lewis»  Media Note»
Engaging Brazilian Subnational Leaders on Upcoming International Sporting Events
Date: 02/16/2012 Description: Governor Agnelo Queiroz shakes hands with Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis in Brazil, February 2012. - State Dept ImageFeb. 17: Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis traveled to six cities throughout Brazil to meet with local government officials, business leaders, and civil society to promote subnational engagement with this vibrant democracy. DipNote Blog by Special Representative Lewis»


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