International Business Relationships Forged

Feb. 20, 2001

Phoenix business owners are forming new alliances across international lines with Phoenix's newest sister city, Catania, Italy. Catania will become Phoenix's newest sister city at a special signing ceremony 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Phoenix City Council chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.

A delegation of city officials, business owners and private citizens from Catania will tour Phoenix from Sunday, Feb. 18, to Sunday Feb. 25, to commemorate the affiliation.

In 1998, STMicroelectronics, which has locations in the United States and Italy, formed a Founders Council composed of Phoenix citizens and interested businesses to pursue the sister city relationship.

The Italian community, numbering 300,000, enthusiastically endorsed the sister city relationship, and the project gained momentum when Phoenix City Councilman Dave Siebert expressed support of the relationship.

The Phoenix Sister Cities Commission has arranged for delegates from Catania to meet with city officials, university professors and high-tech businesses; explore tourist attractions; and sample local cuisine as they develop a relationship with Phoenix. The Phoenix Sister Cities Commission promotes youth, educational, cultural and economic development exchanges that form bridges of international understanding and goodwill.

Other Phoenix sister cities include Calgary, Canada; Chengdu, China; Ennis, Ireland; Grenoble, France; Hermosillo, Mexico; Himeji, Japan; Prague, Czech Republic; and Taipei, Taiwan.

For more information on the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission, call 602-534-3751.

Media Contact:

Jane Poston Paula West

602-534-6648 602-534-3751