OPINION: International visitor program is a boost for ABQ economy

Diplomacy begins right here in Albuquerque.

And it’s very much by design. For years, since 1963 in fact, our city has opened its doors to international visitors — entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, law enforcement officers and other leaders — through prestigious exchange programs like the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), our country’s flagship professional exchange program, started by President Roosevelt in 1940.

These current and emerging leaders don’t just come to meet us; they come to learn from us, build ties with us, and get to know us, often remaining in contact with us to share updates on their work and how it was inspired by what they experienced here in our community. In fact, over 500 current and previous heads of state (think Tony Blair, Indira Ghandi, Nicolas Sarkozy) have come to the U.S. under the IVLP.

At Global Ties ABQ we work with local organizations, universities, and businesses like the city of Albuquerque, University of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories, the Lobo Rainforest and Kirtland Air Force Base, to host these international visitors. Together, we showcase the excellence and innovation of our community to future leaders who matter for U.S. foreign policy.

One of my favorite stories was from a visitor from the ministry of education in Ghana who came here under a program on youth and community engagement. As part of his visit, he met with the founders of Warehouse 505, an Albuquerque-born nonprofit, social enterprise and venue that invests in Albuquerque’s youth by providing a place to learn and develop skills under mentorship within the creative arts and individual sports. He was so impressed, he wrote them saying he was going to replicate the programs he’d seen in his country’s schools.

Another great story is of a young woman from Armenia who had created an app for domestic violence victims, it was being used in her home country and parts of Europe. But thanks to her visit to our city, she partnered with local nonprofits, the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to launch it in the U.S.

And that impact isn’t just cultural — it’s economic, bringing revenue to our local businesses, including hotels, restaurants and shops. In our last reporting year alone, we transformed $153,570 in federal IVLP funds into $510,923 for our local economy.

This is smart economic policy, and it drives local prosperity. These dollars stay in Albuquerque, helping small businesses to thrive, creating jobs and developing the local workforce, all of which strengthens U.S. influence and security abroad.

In fact, the U.S. Department of State exchange programs like the IVLP are one of the best returns on investment we have; approximately 90% of the budget for these programs stays right here in the United States or benefits our citizens directly.

Albuquerque is strengthened because of exchange programs like the IVLP. They are an effective tool for our national security and a critical investment in our city and community.