Erbil-Nashville Sisterhood: Deepening Ties Through Multifaceted Cooperation

On September 9, 2023, Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, and Nashville, the capital of Tennessee in the U.S., officially formalised their sister city status. The agreement was signed by Erbil's Governor, Omed Khoshnaw, and Nashville's Mayor, John Cooper.

This pact empowers the two cities to engage paradiplomatically, coordinating partnerships accross a range of fields including art, culture, education, healthcare, higher education, technology, trade, sports, law, administrative processes, and autonomous administrative matters.

“Sister cities" is a term denoting a formal agreement between two cities from different countries, aimed at fostering ties across diverse sectors due to shared cultural and social values.

Originating post-World War II, the sister city concept not only deepened diplomatic ties between nations but also facilitated direct collaboration between major cities on various fronts.

Earlier, on May 23, 2023, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government welcomed Mayor Cooper, setting the groundwork for the Erbil-Nashville sisterhood.

Nashville, boasting a population of 689,447 as per the 2020 census, is a multicultural hub home to a significant Kurdish community. With its robust economy, advanced healthcare, and thriving tourism sector, this sisterhood is anticipated to be mutually beneficial, propelling growth for both cities.

Department of Media and Information