Background

Since 1972, the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission (ASCC) has been at the forefront of Atlanta’s global strategy by building and maintaining relationships with leading cities across the globe. 

Today, the ASCC oversees Atlanta’s 17 sister city relationships and aims to increase the knowledge, goodwill, and understanding of the world through people-to-people diplomacy and exchanges. It provides a platform for Atlantans to explore different cultures, expand academic opportunities, drive trade and investment, assist those in need, and ultimately raise Atlanta’s visibility in the global community.

Through these strategic relationships, companies such as Sage North America and NurnbergMesse selected Atlanta for their North American operations; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport expanded its global connectivity to Belgium, Nigeria, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic; Georgia Tech established global campuses in France and China; more than $80 million of medical supplies and services have been donated to treat more than 50,000 patients in Jamaica; and more than 300,000 people visit the Atlanta Christkindl Market and enjoy the rich German culture each year. Through these programs, and many others, Atlanta’s sister cities activities contribute nearly $100 million to the local economy through business and trade, tourism, education, and cultural programs.