by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
In many aspects of business, sometimes “who you know” can be more important that “what you know.” That’s especially true in international business.
For more than 40 years the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association, Inc. has worked to promote international exchange of business, education and culture between Jacksonville and the rest of the world. Since Bahia Blanca, Argentina became Jacksonville’s first Sister City in 1967 seven others have joined the list including Murmansk, Russia (1975); Masan, South Korea (1983); Nantes, France (1984); Yingkou, China (1990); Port Elizabeth, South Africa (2000); and Curitiba, Brazil (this year).
Another partner will be added to the “family tree” next month when San Juan, Puerto Rico becomes Jacksonville’s eighth Sister City. It’s the capital of Puerto Rico and its metropolitan area population of 2 million represents half the island’s residents.
Lad Daniels, president of the First Coast Manufacturers Association, president of the JSSA board and former City Council president, said the partnership with San Juan is long overdue. It’s also a little different from Jacksonville’s other Sister Cities agreements.
“Typically the Sister Cities program looks at international relationships,” he said referring to Puerto Rico’s status as a United States territory. “But in this case making San Juan a Sister City accomplishes the goals of the program.”
With the exception of Curitiba, Brazil, all of Jacksonville’s Sister Cities are port cities. Puerto Rico has been a major international trade partner with Jacksonville for years and Robert Peek, director of marketing development at the Jacksonville Port Authority and executive vice president of JSSA’s board, said the Sister Cities agreement with San Juan will help to further that relationship.
“In terms of imports and exports Puerto Rico accounts for 30 percent of Jacksonville’s total cargo traffic and 75 percent of Puerto Rico’s exports pass through our port. Puerto Rico has been very important to our port business for many years and it will continue to be important,” he said.
“Especially overseas, people like to do business with people they know,” said Nancy Olson, the City’s international liaison officer. “Having a Sister Cities agreement greases those wheels.”
Olson added having San Juan as a Sister City will also open up opportunities for exchange students, cultural exchange and perhaps even sports events.
“In combination with Curitiba, having San Juan as a Sister City means we’re really developing out Latin connections,” said Daniels. “Jacksonville has an active Puerto Rican community and they bring a lot to our city. We’re going to do everything we can to carry the welcome flag for San Juan.”
Mayor John Peyton will host San Juan Mayor Jorge A. Santini-Padilla in Jacksonville Oct. 2 for the signing of the Sister Cities agreement. The ceremony at City Hall will be followed by a luncheon at the Omni presented by the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of Northeast Florida, the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations and the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association. For ticket information call 291-3101.
356-2466