Belfast And Boston Become 'Sister Cities'

Belfast has today signed a 'Sister Cities' agreement with Boston in the US to increase links between the two cities, it has been announced.

The agreement was signed earlier today in Boston by Belfast Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir and his Boston counterpart Mayor Martin J Walsh.

"The agreement is designed to foster stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural, faith based exchange and educational linkages between the two cities, and to increase awareness of both cities as being growth cities in the connected health and life sciences, creative industries, tourism, financial services and the knowledge economy sectors," a statement from Belfast City Council said.

The new link is designed to benefit the citizens of each city by:



• promoting both cities to their respective business and academia sectors as locations for trade and investment;

• facilitating trade missions and business-to-business dialogue between the two cities;

• exploring and encouraging cooperation and exchange between local development agencies, Chambers of Commerce and tourism bodies;

• helping facilitate faith-based exchanges between faith leaders in both cities;

• encouraging 'study abroad' programmes, and relevant research opportunities, between the cities’ respective colleges and universities;

• promoting mutual leisure and business tourism opportunities;

• encouraging cultural exchanges; and

• exploring joint policy development and sharing of best practice in the fields of urban development, regeneration and city financial models.



Belfast has two other Sister Cities – Nashville in the United States and Hefei in eastern China. The Agreements with these cities were signed in 1994 and 2005 respectively.

(IT/MH)