An agreement that makes Cape Town and Nairobi sister cities, with a shared mission to be the ‘undisputed economic hubs’ of their respective regions, took place during a ceremony in Nairobi this week (May 23).

The agreement was signed by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and the Governor of Nairobi City County, Johnson Sakaja.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hill-Lewis said the cities were on similar trajectories with similar missions. They have roughly the same population, and both are expanding due to rapid urbanisation.

“It was important to me that our first city-to-city co-operation agreement in this administration is with an African city, and Nairobi is the obvious choice. It is clear that we are both on a mission to become even more globally competitive and to stand out as the most attractive and convenient places to do business in our regions.

“Both our regions are tourism giants on the African continent, and both our cities are considered gateways to our countries’ many attractions. Nairobi and Cape Town attract a very wide range of visitors throughout the year, both cities have vibrant and well-serviced film industries, and our people are all a little sport-obsessed,” said Hill-Lewis.

“Against this backdrop of similarities and shared vision, the opportunities to exchange knowledge are immense. As are the opportunities to expand on the commercial links that already exist between our cities.

“We can do so much more together. We can strengthen each other’s tourism markets. We can collaborate with each other’s film industries. We can double the trade between us.”

Many Cape Town companies have a footprint in Nairobi, and vice versa, with a range of products exported in both directions.

Kenya Airways also already operates daily flights to and from Cape Town, adding to the strong foundation for a sister-cities partnership.

Other knowledge-sharing and partnership opportunities include infrastructure provision, affordable housing delivery, and clean energy.

“We [Hill-Lewis and Sakaja] share a passion for youth leadership development, and we both believe our cities can and should stand at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, economic growth and caring governance,” said Hill-Lewis.

Part of Hill-Lewis’s Kenya itinerary also included engagements with the Kenya film commission and the country’s investment agency, KenInvest.