The names of cities such as London, San Francisco, Paris, Tokyo, New York, and Singapore resonate beyond their national boundaries. To be heard, they project a unique, consistent, and authentic message that differentiates them from other cities. As affirmed in “ The Ten Traits of Globally Fluent Metro Areas,” the metropolitan areas with the best records at working globally possess a combination of appealing identity, high standards, reputation, and global relevance in specific markets. But disruptions from rapid globalization, urbanization, agglomeration, and technological change enabled more mobile commerce, capital, talent, and invention, which pushed midsized metropolitan areas into new rivalries around the world. city-regions enjoyed the benefits of rapid domestic growth, leading the world on innovation, production, and attracting enterprising migrants. In the second half of the 20 th century, U.S. The ability to project a distinctive global identity is critical in connecting with trade, investment, and talent opportunities in an increasingly competitive environment. Responding to this need, GCI undertook a pilot project to develop a replicable process and menu of strategies for metropolitan leaders to more effectively define and communicate their region’s global identity.

How can a city-region achieve visibility and distinguish itself in the international marketplace? This question emerged as the most consistent challenge across nearly 30 metropolitan trade and investment plans created through the Global Cities Initiative (GCI). Director of Research - The Business of Cities in the United Kingdom

Define visibility