City staff reports expanding sister‑city ties and international outreach; committee urges clearer messaging

Shery, representing the city’s Global Engagement team, briefed the Economic Development & Workforce Committee on San Antonio’s international activities in FY2025, including new sister‑city relationships and multiple mission trips designed to attract trade and investment.

Shery said the office added Querétaro (Mexico), Lanzarote (Islas Canarias) and Quebec (Canada) as sister cities in the last year and reported several hundred global participations with a majority described as international delegations. The presentation previewed upcoming delegations and mayoral travel that staff said are intended to raise San Antonio’s profile with priority markets such as Japan, Korea and Spain.

Why it matters: International missions and sister‑city ties are part of the city’s strategy to market San Antonio for trade and foreign direct investment and to build cultural and educational exchange opportunities. Committee members emphasized the need for consistent representation and clearer metrics to ensure visits yield measurable economic results.

What was said: Shery listed outreach categories — commerce, culture, diplomacy, higher education and technical exchange — and cited fiscal‑year numbers for delegations, partnerships and investments the office supports. Committee members recommended coordinating more closely with universities and the Chamber to sustain visibility.

Outcome and next steps: The item was informational. Councilmembers offered to assist with outreach and requested additional detail on the economic return for international missions and how the city will sustain engagement in priority countries.

Quote: "Tenemos relaciones oficiales a lo largo del mundo," Shery said, noting new sister cities and upcoming missions. The committee closed the meeting after the discussion.