MARYLAND SISTER STATES PROGRAM
The Maryland Sister States Program works with Maryland companies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations to bring cultural activities and business opportunities to the citizens of Maryland. Through long-term business, cultural and educational friendships between Maryland and its 9 Sister States, Marylanders enjoy worldwide connections on a local level that are unparalleled. The State of Maryland has 9 active relationships with the following countries: Africa, Belgium, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, and South Korea.
The World Trade Center Institute, Maryland’s Secretary of State, and the Department of
Business and Economic Development’s Office of International Business have teamed together to develop a new approach to managing Maryland's Sister States Program. While the World Trade Center Institute will continue to serve as liaison and facilitator between Maryland’s business community and its Sister States, the overall administration will now be the responsibility of the Office of the Secretary of State. The Office of the Secretary will be the first line of communication for all incoming Sister State requests. The Secretary and his staff will work with the various Sister State committees to coordinate all Sister State activities and host all visiting delegations. Please contact them at the following address:
Office of the Secretary of State of Maryland
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 974-5521
Maryland Sister States communication should be directed to the attention of Mendy Nitsch, Director of International Affairs at mnitsch@sos.state.md.us
List of Sister State Relationships with Maryland:
- Liberia, Bong Co. & Maryland Co., Africa
- Walloon Region, Belgium
- State of Rio de Janiero, Brazil
- Anhui Province, China
- Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
- State of Jalisco, Mexico
- Lodz Region, Poland
- City of St. Petersburg/ Leningrad Oblast, Russia
- Gyeongsangnam Province, South Korea
- Nord-Pas de Calais, France
List of Sister City Relationships in Maryland:
Annapolis
- Newport, Wales - United Kingdom
- Dumfries, Scotland - United Kingdom
- Wexford - Ireland
- Tallinn, Harjumaa - Estonia
Baltimore
- Gbarnga - Liberia
- Alexandria - Egypt
- Genoa, Liguria - Italy
- Kawasaki - Japan
- Luxor - Egypt
- Odessa, Odes’ka - Ukraine
- Piraeus, Attiki - Greece
- Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland - Netherlands
- Xiamen - China
- Ely O'Carroll - Ireland
- Ashkelon - Israel
Calvert County
- Filey, England - United Kingdom
Charles County
- Jogeva County, Jogevamaa - Estonia
Columbia
- Cergy-Pontoise - France
- Tres Cantos - Spain
Frederick
- Moerzheim, Rheinland-Pfalz - Germany
- Schifferstadt, Rheinland-Pfalz - Germany
- Aquiraz - Brazil
Garrett County
- Valga, Valgamaa - Estonia
- Otepää, Valgamaa - Estonia
- Torva, Valgamaa - Estonia
Hagerstown
- Wesel - Germany
Ocean City
- Finale Ligure, Liguria - Italy
Prince George’s County
- Royal Bafokeng Nation - South Africa
- Rishon Le Zion - Israel
- Ziguinchor Region, Ziguinchor - Senegal
Queen Anne's County
- Suzhou, Jiangsu - China
Rockville
- Pinneburg - Germany
Salisbury
- Salisbury, England - United Kingdom
- Tartu - Estonia
Baltimore Sister City Program
Mayor Dixon's Sister City program has been established to further international understanding among all Baltimore City residents and to promote Baltimore in the international arena through dialogue and exchanges. This is an office with a rich and full legacy; some of the Sister City committees have existed since the early 1970's. Their stories will soon be told on the website and in an upcoming traveling exhibit.
The Sister Cities' role is to nurture existing cites and establish new relationships with cities all over the world. Through our Sister Cities' friendly relationships many projects involve business building and trade missions as well as educational, medical, technical, sports and cultural exchanges. Baltimore's Sister City committees meet once a month and involve some of Maryland's prominent business, cultural, medical and educational leaders.
Most recently, an Advisory Council on International Affairs was performed to help promote and guide the Sister City committees and to advise the Mayor in international policy issues as needed.
We encourage WTCI members to become involved with one of the 11 Sister City committees. Please visit the Sister City website to learn more or for further details on how you can become involved contact:
Renée Samuels
Director, Mayor's Office of International Affairs & Immigrants Affairs
Room 345, 100N. Holliday Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Office Phone: 410-396-4905
Direct Line: 410-396-3190
Fax: 410-396-5136
http://www.baltimorecity.gov/sistercities/
Baltimore's Sister Cities:
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Ashkelon, Isreal
- Ely O'Carroll, Ireland
- Gbarnga, Liberia
- Genoa, Italy
- Kawasaki, Japan
- Luxor, Egypt
- Odessa, Ukraine
- Piraeus, Greece
- Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Xiamen, China