NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR -- North Little Rock will be the first city in Arkansas to have a Sister City relationship with a Mexican city after the signing of the agreement between the two cities at North Little Rock’s City Hall on Friday, September 30.



Mayor Patrick Henry Hays announced to the gathering that the City of North Little Rock was joining with the City of Uruapan, Michocan, Mexico, to participate in a Sister City program.



The delegation from Uruapan, including Mayor Marco Antonio Lagunas-Vazquez and Vice Mayor Juan Carlos Robles-Monroy, they arrived on Thursday, September 29, to attend the signing ceremony and to tour several industrial facilities and tourism attractions in North Little Rock and Central Arkansas.



Carlos Garcia de Alba, Consul General of Mexico was present and participated in the agreement’s signing. Garcia de Alba who was a key on the establishment of the relation between the two cites said, “I hope the partnerships between North Little Rock and Uruapan is a good example for other Arkansas cities.’



Trepan’s Mayor, Mayor Marco Antonio Lagunas-Vazquez, mentioned the importance of the cultural, economic relationship for both cities. Mayor Lagunas-Vazquez told ¡Hola! Arkansas that Uruapan will be opening a Wal-Mart Sam's Club in October. “The store will employ around 500 people and has an initial investement of 50 million dollars.” he said.



Mayor Hays stated, “This is yet another exciting opportunity to create and strengthen our city’s international relationships with a foreign city. This new partnership will permit us to work with Mexico at the municipal level to stimulate economic development, tourism growth, and other programs of mutual benefit.”
Mayor Marco Antonio Lagunas-Vazquez, said “We are looking forward to many Exchange Programs that can be developed between our ...