title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 20TH 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, to foster bilateral trade and to provide a linkage between overseas and local firms; 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 traveled to County Cork, Ireland for an economic, educational and cultural exchange; and,
WHEREAS, on July 16, 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 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 last 20 years to develop and strengthen relations between companies, institutions, organizations and individual entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS, government officials representing Cook County and the Cork County Council, along with business leaders from both regions, have since been working to promote bilateral trade in the areas of Information Technology, Biotechnology, Tourism, and small business enterprises; and
WHEREAS, the Partnership has been responsible for numerous successful ventures over the past two decades including the establishment of a PhD level student exchange program between the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT); a cooperative agreement leading between technology associations in both regions to provide pro-bono office space to entrepreneurs seeking to establish a presence in Cook County or County Cork; and the sponsorship of a cultural, outdoor adventure and team building program in Ireland for residents of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, do hereby recognize the 20th Anniversary of the Sister County Partnership between Cook County, Illinois and County Cork, Ireland; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to the Cork County Council, as a token of our continued partnership.
end