Odesa, Istanbul to intensify business and tourism cooperation

Sister cities Odesa and Istanbul will cooperate more actively amidst coronavirus pandemic, focusing on business, culture, tourism, education, and science projects.

This was discussed at the meeting between Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul Oleksandr Haman and Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu on October 12, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We discussed broader cooperation in education, culture, science, business, tourism and focused on continuing cooperation between Odesa and Istanbul as they are sister cities. Istanbul actually presented Odesa with the Istanbul Park, opened in 2017, which is popular among local residents and tourists. Now Odesa wants to present Istanbul with an anchor, one of five that were made especially for sister cities," Haman said.

A possible visit of Odesa city authorities to Istanbul to refine on cooperation prospects was also discussed at the meeting.

Odesa and Istanbul became sister cities on November 2, 1997. The respective agreement was signed in Istanbul by the then Odesa mayor Eduard Hurvits and the then Istanbul mayor and incumbent President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Photo credit: Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul

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