Cebu, Slovenia city sign sisterhood pact

The Cebu provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement for a sisterhood relationship with the city of Ljubljana, the capital of the Republic of Slovenia.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed the agreement at the City Hall of Ljubljana with Deputy Mayor Ales Cerin.

Jeanette Malinao, Capitol consultant on mass and electronic media information dissemination, said the signing of the agreement was aimed to strengthen cooperation between Cebu and the capital of Slovenia.

Garcia was accompanied by members of the Provincial Board and leaders from Cebu’s business community in a bid to expand the market for Cebu products, especially those from furniture industry.

The governor had promised the local furniture industry that its promotion would be one of her priorities.

Garcia and the Cebu delegation also met with Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Jankovic.  Ljubljana is currently moving to be confirmed the status of concurrent city and province, just like Vienna or Washington D.C.

The memorandum states that the two governments “will try their best and in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual benefit, to promote cooperation in the field of regionalization.”

It also speaks of efforts to improve cooperation not only on trade, industry and investments, but also in the fields of science and technology, education, culture, tourism and sports.

The parties also seek to promote the exchange of information in various fields, and exchange visits to implement projects. The agreement was signed last June 3.

The Cebu delegation then proceeded to Croatia, where they met with the honorary consul general.

Today, they will have a meeting with the Croatian furniture importers and the managing director of Croatia’s Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.   

The governor and her delegation are expected to be back in Cebu on June 7. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM