When most people think of economic diplomacy, they think of presidents, foreign ministers, ambassadors, and trade agreements. That understanding is becoming outdated. The twenty-first century has fundamentally changed how investment flows, how trade is organised, and how economic influence is exercised. Today, cities compete against cities. Regions compete against regions. Industrial clusters compete against industrial clusters. Governors increasingly compete for capital in the same way national governments once did.
The implications for Nigeria are profound. The next decade of investment attraction will not be won by Abuja alone. It will be won by states that understand how to position themselves within global value chains. The future belongs to governors who think like economic diplomats.
The Rise of Subnational Economic Diplomacy
Across the world, economic development is becoming increasingly decentralised. The German economy is not powered by Berlin alone. The Netherlands is not driven solely by Amsterdam. Belgium’s economic success is
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