International Focus Magazine Premiere Edition | Page 13

A WORKING RELATIONSHIP –

THE HOUSTON AND ABU DHABI SISTER CITIES
What do Houston and Abu Dhabi have in common? More
than one would think.
Each is a world-class energy center. A number of Houston
corporations have branch offices there, and vice versa. Both
have first-class medical centers which are innovative and
provide outstanding healthcare to people who come from
around the world. Both are major port cities and have busy
international airports servicing cargo as well as serving passengers. In addition, their educational institutions are of the
highest quality. Houston is known as Space City because of
NASA; recently The Spacecraft Platform for Astronautic and
Celestial Emulation Laboratory opened in Abu Dhabi. And
don’t forget, both are Gulf States — just different gulfs.
That’s why, when a delegation from Abu Dhabi came to
Houston in 1993, the idea of being sister cities, also called
twin or partner cities, began to take shape. The Houston
City Council approved the proposal in 2001, and Mayor Lee
P. Brown led a group of Houstonians to Abu Dhabi in 2002
for the signing of the formal agreement, making it Houston’s
fourteenth sister city.

Since that time, several projects have taken place. A student
from Abu Dhabi was the international winner of the Sister City
International 2013 Young Artist’s Competition. Local players
participate in the Sister Cities of Houston Soccer Tournament,
and the Abu Dhabi team has won the championship several
times.
One of the most successful programs is the Annual Houston-Abu Dhabi Association (HASCA) OTC Kickoff Breakfast
for delegates from the UAE. The Hon. Barbara Leaf, US Ambassador to the UAE, was this year’s Keynote Speaker,. She
emphasized the importance of the sister city relationship
and how we can benefit by working together. Congressman
Pete Olson, a leader of the powerful Energy and Infrastructure Committee, provided information that was helpful to the
more than 125 guests who attended this year.
Sunil Sharma, President of HASCA welcomed the dignitaries
who included international, national and local industry executives, city officials, and community leaders. The contacts
that are made at the breakfast often develop into business
that is beneficial to all.

~ words by Ellen Israel Goldberg

see “Sister Cities” con’t. on pg. 56

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