Chicago continues to forge its way through the 21st century as a leader on the world stage, and over the past several years, we have seen the city’s global presence grow stronger than ever. Chicago’s commitment to expanding the city’s global influence has made positive impacts on the lives of Chicago residents, the residents of our sister cities, and all those who travel to Chicago to experience our city’s unparalleled offerings.
Chicago’s importance around the world has been regularly recognized on global cities indexes, including a ranking among the top ten cities of the world in The Economist’s Global City Competitiveness Index. At the 2012 NATO summit hosted here in Chicago, it was my pleasure to showcase the city to 50 heads of state and world leaders, showing them first-hand what makes our Chicago great and our plans to expand Chicago’s global reach.
That’s because I recognize why being an international city is so important. It is one of the most effective tools we have in expanding economic and cultural opportunity for Chicago residents and giving back to other cities that have collaborated with us in growth. I am excited by what Chicago has been able to do so far, and as we move ahead, I have made our international outreach a priority with an approach that seeks to expand on our existing accomplishments in the business world, our partnerships with our sister cities, and our tourism approach.
In 2013 alone, Chicago has brought over 30 international companies to the city, companies that are either expanding their existing presence or establishing new operations in Chicago. These companies are key components of economic development in Chicago, putting residents to work with thousands of new jobs, invigorating the city’s commerce, and continuing to establish Chicago as a center of economic vitality. I am proud that more and more international companies recognize Chicago’s dominance as a great place to do business, and look forward to expanding upon that success year after year.
Over the past year, Chicago has also seen unrivaled levels of international tourism to our city, with 1.7 million overseas visitors showing unprecedented levels of interest in taking in all that our great city has to offer. Choose Chicago, our convention and tourism bureau, has placed greater emphasis on exposing Chicago to international tourists and actively engaging them to visit our great city. Chicago welcomed a record number of overseas visitors in 2012 and has moved up the rankings to 9th most visited U.S. city by international tourists. Choose Chicago continues to open new tourism offices in cities and countries, laying the groundwork to enhance our tourism outreach in the years to come. We have expanded to 10 offices in places such as China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Another major component of Chicago’s plan for growing our city’s global leadership is translating Chicago’s strong sister city relationships into facilitators of growth of Chicago’s influence. I am proud to note that Chicago has the largest sister city program in the United States with 28 sister cities, and with our strong global relationships Chicago Sister Cities International has been at the core of Chicago’s global outreach. I have specifically charged the sister city organization to act as a tool for economic development, education, tourism, immigration, and cultural enrichment, which has allowed CSCI to work closely with City of Chicago departments and non-governmental organizations to strengthen our integrated and holistic approach.
But the inherent value of our sister city relationships goes much further. By forming these important international relationships, we reinforce Chicago’s strength as a city that welcomes and embraces diversity. I am proud that Chicago is known worldwide as a city of strong neighborhoods, with dozens of languages spoken within our communities. Since the city’s founding, our international communities have made Chicago their home and made vital contributions to the development of the city throughout its history, and will continue to play a vital role in the vibrant life of Chicago. Throughout the year, Chicago ensures that these communities can continue to develop, with cultural programming that educates Chicagoans about the world’s communities who have made their home here in our city.
I look forward to continuing to engage our global partners for the benefit of both the City of Chicago and its sister cities community. As Chicagoans work together to make our city and the world a better place for all people to live together, I look forward to showing the world that Chicago is not only the most American of American cities, but also an American city that will continue to lead on the world’s stage.
This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's November/December 2013 print edition.
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Chicago: Leading on the Global Stage
November 6, 2013
Chicago continues to forge its way through the 21st century as a leader on the world stage, and over the past several years, we have seen the city’s global presence grow stronger than ever. Chicago’s commitment to expanding the city’s global influence has made positive impacts on the lives of Chicago residents, the residents of our sister cities, and all those who travel to Chicago to experience our city’s unparalleled offerings.
Chicago’s importance around the world has been regularly recognized on global cities indexes, including a ranking among the top ten cities of the world in The Economist’s Global City Competitiveness Index. At the 2012 NATO summit hosted here in Chicago, it was my pleasure to showcase the city to 50 heads of state and world leaders, showing them first-hand what makes our Chicago great and our plans to expand Chicago’s global reach.
That’s because I recognize why being an international city is so important. It is one of the most effective tools we have in expanding economic and cultural opportunity for Chicago residents and giving back to other cities that have collaborated with us in growth. I am excited by what Chicago has been able to do so far, and as we move ahead, I have made our international outreach a priority with an approach that seeks to expand on our existing accomplishments in the business world, our partnerships with our sister cities, and our tourism approach.
In 2013 alone, Chicago has brought over 30 international companies to the city, companies that are either expanding their existing presence or establishing new operations in Chicago. These companies are key components of economic development in Chicago, putting residents to work with thousands of new jobs, invigorating the city’s commerce, and continuing to establish Chicago as a center of economic vitality. I am proud that more and more international companies recognize Chicago’s dominance as a great place to do business, and look forward to expanding upon that success year after year.
Over the past year, Chicago has also seen unrivaled levels of international tourism to our city, with 1.7 million overseas visitors showing unprecedented levels of interest in taking in all that our great city has to offer. Choose Chicago, our convention and tourism bureau, has placed greater emphasis on exposing Chicago to international tourists and actively engaging them to visit our great city. Chicago welcomed a record number of overseas visitors in 2012 and has moved up the rankings to 9th most visited U.S. city by international tourists. Choose Chicago continues to open new tourism offices in cities and countries, laying the groundwork to enhance our tourism outreach in the years to come. We have expanded to 10 offices in places such as China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Another major component of Chicago’s plan for growing our city’s global leadership is translating Chicago’s strong sister city relationships into facilitators of growth of Chicago’s influence. I am proud to note that Chicago has the largest sister city program in the United States with 28 sister cities, and with our strong global relationships Chicago Sister Cities International has been at the core of Chicago’s global outreach. I have specifically charged the sister city organization to act as a tool for economic development, education, tourism, immigration, and cultural enrichment, which has allowed CSCI to work closely with City of Chicago departments and non-governmental organizations to strengthen our integrated and holistic approach.
But the inherent value of our sister city relationships goes much further. By forming these important international relationships, we reinforce Chicago’s strength as a city that welcomes and embraces diversity. I am proud that Chicago is known worldwide as a city of strong neighborhoods, with dozens of languages spoken within our communities. Since the city’s founding, our international communities have made Chicago their home and made vital contributions to the development of the city throughout its history, and will continue to play a vital role in the vibrant life of Chicago. Throughout the year, Chicago ensures that these communities can continue to develop, with cultural programming that educates Chicagoans about the world’s communities who have made their home here in our city.
I look forward to continuing to engage our global partners for the benefit of both the City of Chicago and its sister cities community. As Chicagoans work together to make our city and the world a better place for all people to live together, I look forward to showing the world that Chicago is not only the most American of American cities, but also an American city that will continue to lead on the world’s stage.
This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's November/December 2013 print edition.
