Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Establishing Sister Cities Relationship
Purpose: Benefit from cultural and economic exchanges
City/State/Country: Luanda, Republic of Angola, Africa
Sponsor(s): Council Member, Luis A. Quintana
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark recognizes the significance and necessity for global interaction; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark acknowledges the great benefits to all residents from cultural and economic exchanges with other municipalities and towns from around the world; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark has established a Sister Cities Program to facilitate such cultural and economic exchanges; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark has a culturally diverse population, which has one of the largest Portuguese speaking populations on the east coast, which includes a growing number of immigrants from the sub-Sahara African region including the City of Luanda, Republic of Angola, Africa; and
WHEREAS, Luanda, located on Angola’s northern coast is the capital and the largest city. Luanda has one of the country’s busiest seaport in addition to being Angola’s administrative center processing agricultural products, beverage production, textile, cement, new car assembly plants, construction materials, plastics, metallurgy, cigarettes and shoes. The City is also notable as an economic center for oil and a refinery is located in the city; and
WHEREAS, a significant number of Angolan residents from Luanda currently reside in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area and desire to work with the City of Newark to develop and enhance a link with their homeland; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark feels that it is befitting to establish a meaningful relationship with African countries and their cities because of the large influx of natives, which have moved into the Newark Metropolitan Region bringing with them an extremely rich cultural heritage and economic resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council on behalf of the people of the City of Newark does hereby extend an invitation to the government and the people of Luanda, Republic of Angola, Africa, to participate with the City of Newark as its Sister City for the purpose of creating greater mutual understanding between the people of our two (2) communities.
2. Copies of this Resolution are to be sent to the Governing Body of the Luanda, Republic of Angola, Africa and Mayor Maria Antonia Nelumba.
STATEMENT
This Resolution invites the citizens of the City of Luanda, Republic of Angola, Africa to join the City of Newark’s Sister Cities Program.