Pasco-Colima Cooperation and Friendship Agreement

Background

The Somos Pasco Economic Development Plan identified a broad range of categories for growth and development in Pasco, including the enhancement of our diverse cultural assets. One strategy toward that goal is to establish a sister city/cooperation relationship with a Mexican community, ideally one from a region where many Pasco residents have their origins.

Cooperation relationships take on many forms and levels of activity among participants. At the heart of an active and productive relationship is a steering committee of dedicated residents and businesses with direct interests in serving the goals and strategies of the relationship, including fundraising.

Depending on the capacity of each community, typical areas of exchange for sister cities may include:

• Commerce, investment, and trade
• Cultural promotion and exchange
• Tourism development and promotion
• Municipal capacity development
• Health and social resource exchange
• Educational exchange
• Science and Technology exchange

In 2018, City Council discussed a joint effort with the Port of Pasco to pursue a relationship with Colima, Mexico, and authorized staff to continue to explore and develop a relationship. In March 2019, the Governor of Colima sent the State Secretary of Economic Development and State Secretary of Social Development on an exploratory mission to Pasco. During this visit, the cabinet officials made presentations to the City Council and various economic development and education groups. The outpouring of support from the community was significant, and dozens of Pasco residents volunteered to help continue developing the relationship.

As a goodwill gesture for receiving the delegation and to affirm his continued interest in developing this relationship, the Governor of Colima and the Secretary of Economic Development sent Chef Jennifer Arana of Cervezeria Colima/Casa Trapiche to participate in the 2019 Pasco Cinco de Mayo Festival. Ms. Arana also was the featured chef to launch the Chef’s Table Dinner Series at the Pasco Specialty Kitchen. That visit was followed by a formal invitation from the Governor of Colima to visit the state.

In June 2019, a local steering committee was formed to assign project teams to develop projects in the areas of Economic Development and Trade; Education and Training; Public Safety, Health and Wellness; Arts and Culture; and Rotary International Exchange. 

In October 2019, a ten-member delegation of Pasco residents, technical experts and City officials visited the State of Colima. Over a five-day period, the group met with various state and community agencies, including the Port of Manzanillo, Rotary International, State Director of Culture and Tourism, and the Office of Civil Protection. Various potential projects and programs were discussed and the Governor reaffirmed his commitment to establishing and supporting a Cooperation and Friendship Agreement with the City of Pasco. At Council's November 9, 2019, Council Meeting, the Cooperation and Friendship Agreement was approved.