Sterling Heights, Michigan, and Ankawa District, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, forge partnership to enhance cultural and governmental collaboration

STERLING HEIGHTS, Michigan, USA — In a move to strengthen inter-communal ties, the municipal council of Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA, approved an agreement to establish a partnership with the Ankawa District, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). This initiative, spearheaded by the Chaldean Community Foundation in the United States last April, marks a positive step in fostering closer relations between the two municipalities.

Rami Nouri, the mayor of Ankawa, highlighted that the proposal had been in the works for some time, with efforts focused on securing the approval of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations and the Erbil Governorate. Over recent weeks, regular online meetings have been held involving representatives from the KRG in Washington, D.C. and the Sterling Heights municipal government, leading to a mutual agreement on the terms of the partnership.

The agreement encompasses various initiatives, including sending government employees from Ankawa to the United States for training in modern governance practices and organizing exchange programs for Ankawa’s youth to experience American culture and way of life. These efforts aim to prepare the next generation for leadership roles and to enhance teamwork skills.

Twinning agreements like this one are instrumental in promoting peace and understanding by establishing direct connections between local communities across the globe.