San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Mayor Yousef Al-Shawarbeh of Amman, Jordan, formalized a Friendship City Agreement on Tuesday, marking the initial step towards a Sister City partnership. This agreement sets the groundwork for future cultural and educational exchanges between the two cities.
The signing ceremony took place at the Spanish Governor’s Palace, where Mayor Nirenberg emphasized, “There is broad recognition in international business and diplomatic circles that economic partnerships don’t just happen. They require lots of work and relationship building that happen at the civic level and citizen-to-citizen level — from educational and cultural exchanges to trade.”
San Antonio currently boasts 12 Sister City relationships globally, with Amman becoming its fourth Friendship City partner.
The Sister Cities International program, established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, aims to strengthen ties between cities worldwide through citizen-led initiatives, enhancing mutual understanding and promoting economic development.
Mayor Al-Shawarbeh, accompanied by a delegation from Amman, collaborated closely with San Antonio’s Arab American Community Advisory Committee in crafting the agreement. Friendship City agreements are initiated through Memorandums of Understanding signed by mayors, while Sister City partnerships require approval by the respective City Councils.
