State Focused-Globally Connected Illinois Office of Trade and Investment Sister Cities in Illinois Jack Lavin Director Department of Commerce and Economic

“State Focused-Globally Connected”

Illinois Office of Trade Illinois Office of Trade and Investment and Investment

Sister Cities in IllinoisSister Cities in Illinois

Jack Lavin DirectorDepartment of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Rod R. Blagojevich Rajinder Bedi Governor

Managing Director Office of Trade and Investment

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity


Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International is a is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that seeks to strengthen relationships between seeks to strengthen relationships between communities in the U.S. and abroad communities in the U.S. and abroad through the promotion of sister city through the promotion of sister city relationships. relationships.

These relationships provide the These relationships provide the foundation for cooperation between foundation for cooperation between communities through cultural, communities through cultural, educational, municipal, business, educational, municipal, business, professional, and technical exchanges and professional, and technical exchanges and projects.projects.

Illinois Office of Trade and Investment

Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International



Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International

Sister Cities International was initiated in 1956 by President Sister Cities International was initiated in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower with the aim of fostering understanding and Dwight Eisenhower with the aim of fostering understanding and tolerance between American citizens and citizens of other tolerance between American citizens and citizens of other countries.countries.

Today, 694 U.S. communities have sister city agreements with Today, 694 U.S. communities have sister city agreements with 1,455 communities in 128 countries worldwide. All 50 states, the 1,455 communities in 128 countries worldwide. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories maintain sister city District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories maintain sister city relationships.relationships.

Among communities abroad, Japan has the most sister city Among communities abroad, Japan has the most sister city programs with 228 communities and 239 partnerships. programs with 228 communities and 239 partnerships.

Sources: DCEO website and www.sister-cities.orgSources: DCEO website and www.sister-cities.org



Sister Relationships Sister Relationships

The Illinois Office of Trade and Investment promotes three types The Illinois Office of Trade and Investment promotes three types of sister relationships, each of which has a positive economic of sister relationships, each of which has a positive economic impact on Illinois:impact on Illinois:

Sister CitiesSister Cities

Sister Chambers of CommerceSister Chambers of Commerce

Sister Universities / Universities Active AbroadSister Universities / Universities Active Abroad



Sister Cities in IllinoisSister Cities in Illinois

The sister cities program is a vehicle for promoting international The sister cities program is a vehicle for promoting international trade, economic development, and exchanges of culture, trade, economic development, and exchanges of culture, education, medicine, environment, technology & social service. education, medicine, environment, technology & social service.

61 Illinois communities are engaged in sister city relationships 61 Illinois communities are engaged in sister city relationships with 108 communities in 39 countries worldwide. Chicago with 108 communities in 39 countries worldwide. Chicago alone has relationships with 27 cities, including Amman, alone has relationships with 27 cities, including Amman, Jordan; Athens, Greece; Mexico City, Mexico; Moscow, Russia; Jordan; Athens, Greece; Mexico City, Mexico; Moscow, Russia; Osaka, Japan; and Paris, France.Osaka, Japan; and Paris, France.

The Chicago Sister Cities International Program was honored The Chicago Sister Cities International Program was honored with the ‘Best Overall Program’ award for cities with with the ‘Best Overall Program’ award for cities with populations greater than 500,000 in July 2007. 126 events populations greater than 500,000 in July 2007. 126 events attracted more than 112,000 people in 2006.attracted more than 112,000 people in 2006.



Sister Cities in Illinois: Past EventsSister Cities in Illinois: Past Events

Prague Days in Chicago:Prague Days in Chicago: Spanning the month of June 2007, the event was Spanning the month of June 2007, the event was the largest celebration of Czech culture in the U.S., highlighting Czech film, fine the largest celebration of Czech culture in the U.S., highlighting Czech film, fine arts, history, business, and tourism. Guests included the Czech ambassador to arts, history, business, and tourism. Guests included the Czech ambassador to the U.S. and the mayor of Prague. Business workshops on growth opportunities the U.S. and the mayor of Prague. Business workshops on growth opportunities in the Czech Republic and the importance of the international non-profit sector in the Czech Republic and the importance of the international non-profit sector demonstrated the positive economic impact sister city relationships can have.demonstrated the positive economic impact sister city relationships can have.

Chinese Delegation to Rockford:Chinese Delegation to Rockford: A delegation from the Chinese city of A delegation from the Chinese city of Changzhou visited Rockford in 1999 to sign a sister cities agreement, tour local Changzhou visited Rockford in 1999 to sign a sister cities agreement, tour local machine shops, and explore trade opportunities for both cities. Their business machine shops, and explore trade opportunities for both cities. Their business relationship has remained close, with delegations from Rockford reciprocating relationship has remained close, with delegations from Rockford reciprocating and exploring trade opportunities in Changzhou. and exploring trade opportunities in Changzhou.



Sister Chambers of Commerce in IllinoisSister Chambers of Commerce in IllinoisSister chambers of commerce encourage business relationships and Sister chambers of commerce encourage business relationships and economic growth on a wider, more regional basis than sister city economic growth on a wider, more regional basis than sister city agreements, and tend to focus more on business issues.agreements, and tend to focus more on business issues.

Illinois chambers of commerce with sister chambers abroad include:Illinois chambers of commerce with sister chambers abroad include:

The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce and the The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce and the Coventry-Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in the United Coventry-Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in the United KingdomKingdom

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Australian New The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Australian New Zealand American Chamber of CommerceZealand American Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and the The Greater Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the United Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the United KingdomKingdom



Foreign Students in IllinoisForeign Students in Illinois

Many Illinois universities are active abroad – administering Many Illinois universities are active abroad – administering degree and study abroad programs, running branch campuses, degree and study abroad programs, running branch campuses, and coordinating research with foreign institutions. The and coordinating research with foreign institutions. The relationships Illinois universities maintain with their overseas relationships Illinois universities maintain with their overseas counterparts can help bring foreign students to study in Illinois, counterparts can help bring foreign students to study in Illinois, where they have a significant impact:where they have a significant impact:

Illinois ranked 6Illinois ranked 6thth in the U.S. with nearly 25,000 in the U.S. with nearly 25,000 foreign university students.foreign university students.

Foreign students spent an estimated $617 million in Foreign students spent an estimated $617 million in Illinois in the 2002/2003 academic year.Illinois in the 2002/2003 academic year.


Addison:Addison:

Belleville:Belleville:

Belvidere: Belvidere:

Bridgeview:Bridgeview:

Bloomington/Normal:Bloomington/Normal:

Carbondale:Carbondale:

Carol Stream: Carol Stream:

Champaign/Urbana:Champaign/Urbana:

Charleston:Charleston:

Chicago:Chicago:

Triggiano, Italy

Brovary, Ukraine; Paderborn, Germany

Schwieberdingen, Germany; Vaux-le-Penil, France

Szcyntno, Poland

Asahikawa, Japan; Canterbury, United Kingdom; Vladimir, Russia

Nakajo-Niigata, Japan; Simla, India

Capri, Italy

Tartu, Estonia

Fengshou, Taiwan

Accra, Ghana; Amman, Jordan; Athens, Greece; Belgrade, Serbia; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Busan, South Korea; Casablanca, Morocco; Delhi, India; Durban, South Africa; Galway, Ireland; Gothenburg, Sweden; Hamburg, Germany; Kiev, Ukraine; Lahore, Pakistan; Lucerne, Switzerland; Mexico City, Mexico; Milan, Italy; Moscow, Russia; Osaka, Japan; Paris, France; Petach-Tikva, Israel; Prague, Czech Republic; Shanghai, China; Shenyang, China; Toronto, Canada; Vilnius, Lithuania; Warsaw, Poland


Illinois Sister CitiesIllinois Sister CitiesChicago Heights: Chicago Heights:

Columbia: Columbia:

Crystal Lake:Crystal Lake:

Decatur:Decatur:

Deerfield: Deerfield:

De Kalb: De Kalb:

Des Plaines:Des Plaines:

Dixon:Dixon:

Elgin:Elgin:

Elk Grove:Elk Grove:

Elmwood Park:Elmwood Park:

Evanston:Evanston:

Fox River Grove:Fox River Grove:

Frankfort:Frankfort:

GalvaGalva

Cedral, Mexico; San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy; Wadowice, Poland

Gedern, Germany

Holzerlingen, Germany

Seevetal, Germany; Tokorozawa, Japan

Ludinghausen, Germany

Tamworth, Australia

Cremona, Italy; Nailuva, Fiji Islands

Dickson, Russia; Herzberg, Germany; Uganda, Africa

Helgorod, Russia

Termine Imerse, Italy

Frosinone, Italy

Belize City, Belize

Koksy, Czech Republic

Weidhausen, Germany

Galva, Sweden



Illinois Sister CitiesIllinois Sister CitiesGlenviewGlenview

Hanover Park:Hanover Park:

Harvey: Harvey:

Highland:Highland:

Highland Park:Highland Park:

Hoffman Estates:Hoffman Estates:

Joliet: Joliet:

Lake County:Lake County:

Lake Park H.S.:Lake Park H.S.:

Lake Zurich:Lake Zurich:

Midlothian:Midlothian:

Millstadt:Millstadt:

Mount Prospect:Mount Prospect:

Naperville:Naperville:

Niles:Niles:

Northbrook:Northbrook:

Oak Park:Oak Park:

Dounty Down, Northern Ireland

Cape Coast, Ghana

Dowa District, Malawi

Sursee, Switzerland

Ferrara, Italy

Angouleme, France

Liaoyang, China

Ferrara Province, Italy

Hamburg, Germany

Nittenau, Germany

Midlothian Region, Scotland

Gross-Bieberau, Germany

Sevres, France

Nitra, Slovakia

Leixlip, Ireland; Naphion, Greece; Pisa, Italy

Diegum, Belgium

Pamplona, Spain

Palatine:Palatine:

Park Ridge:Park Ridge:

Peoria:Peoria:

Quincy:Quincy:

Rockford:Rockford:

Roselle:Roselle:

Schiller Park:Schiller Park:

Shelbyville:Shelbyville:

Schaumburg:Schaumburg:

Springfield:Springfield:

Tinley Park:Tinley Park:

University Park:University Park:

Waterloo:Waterloo:

Fontenay-le-Comte, France

Kinver, United Kingdom

Benxi, China; Clonmel, Ireland; Friedrichshafen, Germany

Herford, Germany; Jiaxing, China

Borgholm, Sweden; Brovary, Ukraine; Cluj-Napoca, Romania;Changzhou, China; Ferentino, Italy

Bochnia, Poland

Capurso, Italy

Ohkuwa, Japan

Namericawaka, Japan; Schaumburg, Germany

Ashikaga, Japan; San Pedro de los Colonias, Mexico

Budingen, Germany

Clay-Ashland, Liberia

Porta Westfalica, Germany



Illinois Sister CitiesIllinois Sister CitiesWestern Springs:Western Springs:

Wheaton:Wheaton:

Rueley, United Kingdom; Wheaton-Aston, United Kingdom

Karlskoqa, Sweden

Waukegan:Waukegan:

West Chicago: West Chicago:

Wilmette:Wilmette:

Kiyotake-Cho, Japan

Taufkirchen, Germany

Mona Vale, Australia



Illinois Sister CitiesIllinois Sister Cities

The Office of Trade and Investment can offer assistance to communities in The Office of Trade and Investment can offer assistance to communities in Illinois that are interested in pursuing a sister city relationship with Illinois that are interested in pursuing a sister city relationship with international cities. Assistance can include:international cities. Assistance can include:

Identifying the criteria for selecting a sister city.Identifying the criteria for selecting a sister city.

Assisting in the process of formalizing a sister city relationship.Assisting in the process of formalizing a sister city relationship.

Acting as a mentor to facilitate the initial steps of program Acting as a mentor to facilitate the initial steps of program development.development.

Offering guidance on established programs.Offering guidance on established programs.



OTI Contacts and ResourcesOTI Contacts and Resources

OTI: Iwona Bochenska, International Trade SpecialistOTI: Iwona Bochenska, International Trade Specialist

email: email: [email protected]

Resources:Resources:

Sister Cities International: Sister Cities International: http://www.sister-cities.org

Study Illinois: Study Illinois: http://www.studyillinois.org/

Chicago Sister Cities: Chicago Sister Cities: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/. Contains several. Contains several

descriptions of past events.descriptions of past events.

Documents

State Focused-Globally Connected Illinois Office of Trade and Investment Sister Cities in Illinois Jack Lavin Director Department of Commerce and Economic