Press Release

Subject: The President and CEO of Sister Cities International, Ms. Mary Kane to officially launch The Eastern African Sister Cities (EASC) initiative in Nairobi.

Venue: Sarova Pan Afric Hotel
Date: February 29, 2012
Time: 6.00 – 8.30pm

The President Sister Cities International, Ms. Mary Kane, will preside over the official launch of the Eastern Africa Sister Cities (EASC) initiative on 29 February 2012. Participants to this event will include urban council and business leaders, as well as civil society members engaged in humanitarian activities in this region.

“My visit to Kenya and Ghana provides an excellent opportunity for Sister Cities International to support regional partners like Eastern Africa Sister Cities and Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation (Ghana) who are spreading the sister cities concept and helping local sister cities programs with their expertise and connections. My hope for the future is not only to see more sister city relationships between the U.S.A and Africa, but to see more sister cities develop between African countries so there is more regional cooperation,” Said Ms. Mary Kane President and CEO, Sister Cities International.

The Eastern Africa Sister Cities (EASC) was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sister Cities International and the Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) in August 2011. The President and CEO Sister Cities International, Ms. Mary Kane together with the EASC Regional President, Mr. James Shikwati will formally sign launch document in presence of the press on February 29, 2012.

EASC’s main goals are to develop, coordinate, incubate, help sustain existing city, town and municipality links worldwide with emphasis to promote a south to south city twinning and strengthen Sister Cities in Eastern Africa region. “It is our expectation that the city and urban center twinning concept will add value to Kenya in its new county government dispensation and enhance the East Africa Community spirit of social, political and economic cooperation,” said James Shikwati, the EASC Regional President and the Director of the Inter Region Economic Network.

To participate in this event please Call Mr. Raymond Kiptum (Program Manager EASC) at 0202731497 or email easc@irenkenya.com cc Zaina@irenkenya.com

About IREN

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN Kenya) is a leading independent African think tank that promotes ideas and strategies geared towards causing prosperity in Africa through free enterprise and sound public policy.  IREN’s key focus areas include targeted events, trainings, research, consultancy, communication and its flagship online magazine, The African Executive published in English every Wednesday. (http://www.irenkenya.com/)

About SCI

Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between the U.S. and international communities which promote peace, mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation through international exchanges and programs on youth and education, arts and culture, sustainable and economic development, and humanitarian assistance. Created by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 at a White House summit, the organization is a leader in people-to-people exchanges with a network that boasts over 600 U.S. cities with nearly 2,000 sister city relationships in 136 countries on six continents. More information about Sister Cities International can be found at http://www.sister-cities.org/