Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez meets with South Africa’s City Of Cape Town Executive Mayor Patricia De Lille to broaden relationships between the two governments

(MIAMI, September 16, 2013) – Today, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, District 3 Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson, and District 4 Commissioner Sally A. Heyman, met with South Africa’s City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Patricia De Lille, to sign a cooperative agreement that will broaden relationships between the two governments, as part of Miami-Dade County’s Sister Cities Program. 

The Cooperative Agreement calls for both cities to support cultural and trade missions to each community, to work together to establish direct air service between Miami International Airport and Cape Town, and to improve relations between PortMiami and the Port of Cape Town. 

“It was an honor and a pleasure to host my counterpart from Cape Town, South Africa – Mayor Patricia de Lille – today and to further strengthen the relationship between our two communities by signing this Cooperative Agreement,” said Mayor Gimenez. “Mayor de Lille is a dynamic leader and we’re both excited about the future opportunities for business and cultural exchanges that this agreement helps to solidify.”

The Sister Cities Program strives to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development.  Miami-Dade County has been branding itself as a key strategic resource for expanding international trade with the continent of Africa. Since 2005, PortMiami and the Port of Cape Town have been engaged in a Sister Port agreement, and both ports have committed to working with each other to increase cruise and cargo flows at both ports.  Additionally, Miami-Dade County has taken two business development missions to Cape Town since 2007.  For more information on the Sister Cities Program, please visit http://www.miamidade.gov/business/international-trade.asp

From left to right: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A.  Gimenez; South Africa’s City of Cape Town Executive Mayor Patricia De Lille

From left to right: Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally A. Heyman, District 4; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, South Africa’s City of Cape Town Executive Mayor Patricia De Lille; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson, District 3