Phoenix’s newest sister city is its first in South America. Medellin, Colombia, will become Phoenix’s 12th sister city after the City Council approved the relationship.

The nonprofit diplomacy network that makes up Sisters Cities International is designed to create and strengthen ties between U.S cities and those in other countries. 

Medellin is Colombia’s second-largest city with 2.5 million residents. Once infamous for violent drug cartels, Medellin’s leaders established the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in 2019 to focus on new technologies, sustainability and global partnerships.

Phoenix Sister Cities Inc. said the benefits include:

• Alignment around initiatives and goals, including connected and sustainable mobility; and the development of the cities' respective rivers and surrounding communities
• Youth and education exchanges including the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program
• Arts, culture and sports exchanges including an upcoming exhibit of works by Fernando Botero at the Phoenix Botanical Garden
• Business exchanges, especially focused on aerospace, biotech, and connected mobility

In August, a Phoenix delegation will travel to Medellin to sign the Sister Cities agreement.