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Global Economic Impact of Sister Cities International Released in New Study Totals Hundreds of Millions of Dollars

WASHINGTON, DC (October 7, 2015) – Today, Sister Cities International (SCI) released Measures That Matter℠, a study conducted in collaboration with valueideas, a management consulting firm, presenting the major economic benefits of sister city relationships in the U.S. and their impact on the global economy from 2014.

For 60 years, SCI has formed thousands of strong, mutually beneficial sister city partnerships, with thousands of peopleto-people and municipal exchanges taking place each year. Highlights from the report show that in 2014 alone, 14,153 visitors came to the U.S. via 1,123 inbound sister city exchanges and 9,899 U.S. residents participated in 944 outbound sister city exchanges abroad. As a result, direct sister cities activities such as international exchanges, events, and volunteering created an economic impact on the U.S. economy of $525.7 million. Globally, international exchanges by U.S.-based members contributed $106.8 million (USD). The global direct impact of the SCI network was $237.6 million (USD) and the total impact was $537.7 million (USD).

When adjusted to the average value of the global Purchase Price Parity Index, the direct SCI contribution to the global economy was $18.5 billion and total contribution was $41.9 billion. “Not only is the Sister Cities International network a leader in citizen diplomacy and peace building, but this data shows that our network is also of huge importance to the global economy as demonstrated through tourism, trade, and investment,” said Mary D. Kane, Sister Cities International President and CEO.

To see the full Measures That Matter℠ report, visit www.sistercities.org/MeasuresThatMatter.