ST. LOUIS WILL HOST U.S. AFRICA SISTER CITIES CONFERENCE IN 2005

Delegates From 28 African Nations Expected to Attend This Milestone Event

OCTOBER 22, 2003, St. Louis, Missouri... Robert R. Heuermann, executive director of The St. Louis Center for International Relations, and Dr. John Wright, chairman of the St. Louis-Senegal Sister Cities Committee, today announced that St. Louis will officially host the 14th annual U.S. Africa Sister Cities Conference involving delegates from 28 African countries, plus participants from other nations, May 28-31, 2005.

This milestone event in St. Louis will bring together business leaders, economists, politicians, artists, writers and educators from across Africa and worldwide to participate in socio-economic forums addressing trade development, cultural exchange and humanitarian issues in communities worldwide," Heuermann said.

We expect the U.S. Africa Sister Cities Conference to attract substantial interest both regionally and globally," said Dr. Wright, who is assistant superintendent of the Ferguson-Florissant School District in suburban St. Louis and chairman of the African Heritage Association, which is based in St. Louis.

Pro-active involvement by African leaders and educators working to address crucial issues such as sustained economic development and the AIDs crisis, plus involvement by leaders from other nations working to achieve similar goals, will distinguish this event for its participants and the St. Louis region," Dr. Wright said.

In November, the St. Louis Center for International Relations, the St. Louis-Senegal Sister Cities Committee and officials of the U.S. Africa Sister Cities Foundation will begin considering formats, venues, co-sponsors and activities for the Conference, which will occur over Memorial Day weekend in 2005. The St. Louis African Arts Festival, an annual event, is scheduled to occur that same weekend in Forest Park.

The St. Louis Center for International Relations (SLCIR) is a non-profit entity administered jointly by St. Louis City and St. Louis County governments. Its primary mission is to promote the St. Louis regions international profile and develop socio-economic exchanges with other cities to attract more business investment and to expand educational opportunities locally. It is the development arm of St. Louis thirteen sister city relationships and their committees, including the St. Louis-Senegal Sister Cities Committee.

Last July, SLCIR hosted the Sister Cities International Conference in downtown St. Louis. That event attracted nearly 1,000 participants from overseas and had a local economic impact of more than $1 million. Sister Cities International, a citizen diplomacy network based in Washington, D.C., encourages socio-economic exchange among communities and groups in 121 nations, including The U.S. Africa Sister Cities Foundation.

For more information, contact Jeff Dunlap at 314.721.5505 or Robert R. Heuermann, Jr. at 314.863.6777.