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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COOK COUNTY INTERNATIONAL TRADE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM'S SISTER COUNTY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND COUNTY CORK, IRELAND
WHEREAS, in 1995, Cook County launched the International Trade Partnership Program to promote trade and investment between Cook County and strategic partner regions around the world in order to foster bilateral trade and provide linkages between businesses locally and overseas; and
WHEREAS, in March 1998, a delegation from County Cork, Ireland made their first visit to Cook County, Illinois to participate in a series of government business and cultural events; and
WHEREAS, in July 1999, a delegation of government and business leaders from Cook County Illinois travelled to Cork County, Ireland for an economic, educational and cultural exchange; and
WHEREAS, in July 1999, at a Cork County Council meeting, the Cook County, Illinois - County Cork, Ireland Sister-County Partnership Agreement was signed; and
WHEREAS, in October 2000, the Cook County Partners with Ireland Committee was established to facilitate the International Trade Partnership Program with regions in Ireland; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and County Cork have worked together over the past 27 years to develop and strengthen relations between companies, educational institutions, organizations and individual entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS, government officials representing Cook County, Illinois and Cork County, Ireland along with business leaders from both regions have since been working to promote bilateral trade and exchange in the areas of biotechnology, information technology, institutions of higher education, small business enterprises & tourism; and
WHEREAS, the Sister-County Partnership has been responsible for numerous successful ventures over the past 27 years including:
• the establishment of a PhD level student exchange program between the Illinois Institute of Technology IIT (now known as Illinois TECH) and the Cork Institute of Technology (now known as Munster Technological University);
• a cooperative agreement between leading technology associations in both regions to provide pro bono office space to entrepreneurs seeking to establish a presence in Cook County or County Cork;
• the sponsorship of a cultural training program in Ireland for residents of Cook County’s Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in which the sixth group of Cook County young people traveled to Cork last June to learn and grow through outdoor activities, life-skills training and team-building exercises.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of more than 5 million residents of Cook County, recognize this long-standing partnership and do hereby welcome the Mayor of the County of Cork Ireland, Councillor Mary Linehan Foley, and the Cork County delegation to Cook County, Illinois; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to Councillor Mary Linehan Foley, Mayor of the County of Cork and the Cork County Council in recognition of our continued partnership.
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