Johannesburg Home Current Initiatives Past Activities A Corporate Relationship On September 20, 1994, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, and Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington (formerly NYC Commissioner for Business Services), and Councilor Ian Davidson, representing the City Council of Johannesburg, announced and signed a "Corporate Relationship" agreement to encourage economic exchange between the City of New York and the City of Johannesburg. The forming of the "Corporate Relationship" was aimed at expanding economic and business interchange between the City of New York and the City of Johannesburg by facilitating direct contact between the economic and business sectors of the partner cities. The lifting of international sanctions coupled with an improvement in the economics of South Africa's export markets, have seen a phenomenal growth in exports in South Africa. In 1994, the surge of exports gave way to the trade surplus that reached its highest level since October 1991. Today, there is significant steady growth in trade between South Africa and the United States. Both imports from and exports to the United States have grown in record numbers. Full Sister City Partnership In 2001 New York City invited the City of Johannesburg to enter into full Sister City partnership, to elaborate upon the "Corporate Relationship" and to encourage the global partnership of the two great cities. In 2003, an official proclamation was signed by Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Amos Masondo, cementing this formal relationship. The following is an excerpt from an interview with South African Consul General Thami X. Ngwevela: "It is an opportune time for Johannesburg and New York City to partner as Sister Cities. They are quite similar and there is so much information that can be shared between the two cities. In South Africa, we are very excited about all the new initiatives that are taking place, especially in Johannesburg. There are still a few areas of concerns such as crime, housing and migration. Our two police departments can share crime prevention policies and techniques, especially techniques using technology. There has been a heavy influx of migration into Johannesburg. We can also share techniques about planning and development for our ever-growing city on receiving new visitors, and how to absorb the economic challenge. Johannesburg is becoming the epi-center of the African region, just like New York City is the epi-center of the United States.... A sister city partnership between our cities will encourage businesses in NYC to do business in Johannesburg... New York City is the industrial hub. If you are going to do business in Africa, the best location is in Johannesburg. If people are able to exchange, by way of tourism, by way of community-based exchanges, and by the way of delegations traveling to Africa, to learn more about Africa. I think better decisions can be made..."
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