The local government here is eyeing to establish a sisterhood agreement with Dobong-gu in Seoul, South Korea to boost Iloilo City’s position as a tourist destination and look into educational and cultural exchanges.

“We are establishing a sister city agreement with Dobong-gu one of the districts of Seoul. This agreement will enhance Iloilo’s place as a tourism destination and facilitate educational, cultural, and other exchanges,” Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in a Viber message on Thursday.

Treñas is in the Seoul district for a public-private partnership benchmarking conference of CityNet, an association of urban stakeholders committed to sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

He met with Dobong-gu Mayor Oh Eon-seok and talked about the possibility of a sister city agreement.

Dobong-gu is one of the 25 districts of Seoul.

“They are open to it and I will schedule a signing here when I come back in October for the executive committee meeting of CityNet,” Treñas said, adding that he also invited them to witness this city’s Dinagyang Festival.

Iloilo City has 35 sister cities – 15 are domestic while 20 are from abroad.

On May 19, it also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Quanzhou municipal people’s government, Fujian province, China for a friendship city relationship.

The relationship aims to strengthen economic and trade bonds, promote cultural and artistic exchange, and push forward educational and people-to-people exchanges.

With this, entrepreneurs will be encouraged to participate in expos held in both cities, such as the China (Quanzhou) Maritime Silk Road International Brand Expo and the Iloilo Food Beverage Expo (IFBEX).

Artists from both cities will also be invited to attend festivals, such as the Maritime Silk Road International Art Festival and the Dinagyang Festival.

Further, schools in both cities will be encouraged to establish friendship relationships, organize mutual visits of teachers and students, and carry out youth exchanges. (PNA)