This video presents “Sister Cities”:
- “Since its inception, Sister Cities has built bridges between the people of Chicago and our international neighbors to achieve greater mutual understanding and to strengthen our civic, economic and cultural ties”
Many cities in the world have entered into relationships or partnerships with other cities called sister cities.
- Sister city is the term commonly used in the U.S.
- Sister Cities International organization is the national headquarters for these partnerships in the U.S.
When two cities form a sister city partnership:
- they share information on various topics with one another
- committees made up of city officials and citizens are set up to support the partnerships
- official visits to each city occur
- “a formal set of goals and sister city projects are decided prior to formally becoming sister cities”
Chicago Sister Cities International is part of Sister Cities International organization:
- Chicago Sister Cities International is committed to:
- promoting Chicago as a global city
- developing international partnerships and networks
- sharing best practices on a city-to-city basis
- For over 50 years, Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) has been at the forefront of cultural, educational and business exchanges between Chicago and its official 28 sister cities:
- including TORONTO, CANADA: Chicago’s Sister City Since 1991
- Since Chicago’s first Sister Cities agreement in 1960, the city has continued to forge these international relationships, and today has 28 sister cities
- The Chicago Sister Cities International Program works to foster international exchange with these cities on on a range of topics, including trade, education, culture, medicine, and technology
At the core of all sister cities relationships is an agreement, signed by the Mayors of each city, reflecting their mutual commitment to building bridges between governments, businesses and individuals:
- “In the global economy, however, cities that don’t take aggressive steps to maintain their competitive advantage are at risk of losing ground to emerging metro areas at home and abroad.”
- “From 2003 to 2011, Chicago averaged about $570 million annually in foreign direct investment, although one large investment in 2004 accounts for almost 40 percent of this total:
- Meanwhile, three comparable cities – Bogota, Colombia; Frankfurt, Germany; and Toronto, Canada – averaged more than $1 billion annually over the past four years, far outperforming Chicago
- What accounts for their success?
- All three cities made a commitment to attracting foreign-owned businesses.
- Each established a lead investment promotion agency to serve as a one-stop shop for foreign businesses, helping to connect executives with government officials and business resources.
- In addition, the agencies engage in rigorous research and analysis to identify the industries and international markets their city is best positioned to serve.”
- Meanwhile, three comparable cities – Bogota, Colombia; Frankfurt, Germany; and Toronto, Canada – averaged more than $1 billion annually over the past four years, far outperforming Chicago
Chicago Strengthens City-to-City Tie with Toronto:
- On September 18 and 19, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will lead a business mission to Chicago to focus on forging strategic alliances and encouraging investment, trade and learning opportunities between Toronto and Chicago
- This mission is a result of recommendations made by business leaders at the Toronto Mayor’s Executive Business Roundtable that was held earlier this year and chaired by Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee
- Co-chairs of this Team Toronto initiative are:
- George Cohon, Founder, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada
- Robert Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines
- All members of the Team Toronto business mission will be responsible for their own participation costs
- A final itinerary and list of delegates will be released to the media prior to the September 18 departure
- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will reaffirm and endorse a renewed version of the 1991 Chicago-Toronto Partner City Agreement in September 2012
- Chicago and Toronto have been Sister Cities since 1991
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Media Advisory
August 13, 2012
Mayor Ford set to lead Team Toronto business mission to Chicago
Mayor Rob Ford will lead a business mission to Chicago in September to mark the beginning of a renewed Partner City relationship.
The Co-chairs of this Team Toronto initiative are George Cohon, Founder, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, and Robert Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines. Mayor Ford and the Co-chairs will be joined by Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee, and Councillor Doug Ford (Ward 2 Etobicoke North) at a news conference to announce this exciting collaborative venture between the two cities.
Date: Tuesday, August 14
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Observation Deck (weather permitting), Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.
To reach the observation deck, take an East Tower elevator to the 25th floor. Then take another elevator up two floors to the observation deck. Staff will be on hand to direct you. If it’s raining at 11 a.m., the news conference will be held in the Members Lounge (third floor, City Hall).
The business mission will focus on forging strategic alliances and encouraging investment, trade and learning opportunities between Toronto and Chicago. Mayor Ford and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will also reaffirm and endorse a renewed version of the 1991 Chicago-Toronto Partner City Agreement. This mission is a result of recommendations made by business leaders at the Mayor’s Executive Business Roundtable that was held earlier this year and chaired by Councillor Thompson.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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