Today in Paris, Mayor Emanuel and Lord Mayor Clover Moore of Sydney, Australia, signed a sister city agreement, making Sydney Chicago’s 29^th sister city and expanding Chicago’s sister city network to every inhabited continent in the world. The signing took place while Mayor Emanuel is in Paris to attend the C40’s Women4Climate Summit.

“Chicago is strengthening our relations with cities across the world” said Mayor Emanuel. “We are proud to call Sydney a sister city, and we look forward to moving forward together in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie.”

“I’m delighted to sign this agreement today, strengthening Sydney’s relationship with the city and the people of Chicago,” said Lord Mayor Moore. “Our cities share much in common, including our commitments to pursuing design excellence in architecture and public art, and taking strong action on climate change.” 

The agreement will further traditional links of friendship between Chicago and Sydney, and reaffirm their mutual aspiration to work in unison for the benefit of their cities and nations. The two cities will work together on the basis of friendly cooperation, equality and mutual benefit, with reciprocal cooperation as it relates to economic development, education, environment, healthcare, technology, arts and culture, tourism, and urban development.

Chicago has the largest sister city program in the U.S. The City’s sister city relationships are managed by Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI), an initiative of World Business Chicago. CSCI has an extensive network of volunteers who work to deepen Chicago’s sister city relationships by working on programs, exchanges, and initiatives between Chicago and its sister cities.

“We are honored to welcome Sydney to the Chicago Sister Cities International network,” said Leroy Allala, Executive Director of Chicago Sister Cities International. “This new sister city relationship will further strengthen Chicago’s bond with Australia, and we look forward to working with Sydney into the future.”

“I warmly welcome this new sister city relationship between Chicago and Sydney,” said Ambassador Peter Heyward, Australian Consul-General in Chicago. “It will provide a platform for strengthening and expanding not only business links but collaboration in all sectors between two vibrant and productive communities, reflecting the unique bond between Australians and Americans we celebrate as ‘mateship.’”

Chicago and Illinois have strong economic ties with Sydney and Australia. There are over 30 Australia-based companies in the Chicago area, and 40 Chicago-area companies have a presence in Sydney. Total trade between Illinois and Australia is $3.8 billion. The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) has its Australian base in Sydney and its U.S. base in Chicago.

“Chicago and Sydney are major global centers of commerce, and we look forward to increased economic partnership for years to come,” said Andrea Zopp, president and CEO of World Business Chicago. “This agreement solidifies the relationship between our cities and provides a framework for future successful collaboration.”

Chicago’s global presence continues to grow. For the sixth year in a row, Chicago led the U.S. in foreign direct investment, and entered the top five in the world, according to the2018 IBM Global Location Trends report. Chicago is one of only six cities globally – and the only in the U.S. – that has nonstop passenger air services to all six major inhabited regions of the world.

Chicago’s 29 sister cities are: Accra, Ghana (1989); Amman, Jordan (2004); Athens, Greece (1997); Belgrade, Serbia (2005); Birmingham, United Kingdom (1993); Bogota, Colombia (2009); Busan, Republic of Korea (2007); Casablanca, Morocco (1982); Delhi, India (2001); Durban, South Africa (1997); Galway, Ireland (1997); Gothenburg, Sweden (1987); Hamburg, Germany (1994); Kyiv, Ukraine (1991); Lahore, Pakistan (2007); Lucerne, Switzerland (1998); Mexico City, Mexico (1991); Milan, Italy (1973); Moscow, Russia (1997); Osaka, Japan (1973); Paris, France (1996); Petach Tikva, Israel (1994); Prague, Czech Republic (1990); Shanghai, China (1985); Shenyang, China (1985); Sydney, Australia (2019); Toronto, Canada (1991); Vilnius, Lithuania (1993); and Warsaw, Poland (1960). 

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About Chicago Sister Cities International

Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) advances Chicago as a global city and promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation through citizen diplomacy – one individual, one community at a time – for the benefit of Chicago and its sister cities.

To accomplish its mission, CSCI develops programs in the areas of cultural arts and tourism, global education, government relations, and international business.

CSCI is an initiative of World Business Chicago, a public-private, non-profit partnership that drives inclusive economic growth and job creation, supports business, and promotes Chicago as a leading global city.