Duisburg-Fort Lauderdale
Urban
Diplomacy
Exchange
Duisburg-Fort Lauderdale
"Municipal foreign policy" has been described in Duisburg for decades as an alternative foreign policy of the municipalities by the long-standing mayor and honorary citizen of Duisburg, Josef Krings, and actively lived:
“The fact that you are at the intersection of important development and transport axes does not alone constitute municipal foreign policy. She makes them necessary in the first place. The city must learn to act on these levels of action. Your partners, the companies and associations, already feel at home here. Structural change and internationality belong together. ... Urban politics in our time must acknowledge the international interdependence of economy, culture and social life. Duisburg needs a municipal foreign policy.” (Duisburg International, City of Duisburg, 1995)
The idea of town twinning arose after the Second World War, when ex-warriors sought to get closer to one another and are shaped by a strong desire for reconciliation, reconciliation and 'rebuilding peace'.
Today - more than 60 years later - the goals of the town twinning are far more extensive.
The connections after Fort Lauderdale are supported by civic engagement. The German-American Friends of the Lower Rhine eV brings students from the USA to the Lower Rhine and vice versa every year. A lively exchange with long-lasting friendships is the successful result of this connection.
Duisburg and Fort Lauderdale are connected by the element of water – both cities are on and on the water. The economy of both cities is shaped by the element, Duisburg is known as the largest inland port in the world, while Fort Lauderdale is known primarily to crusaders and fans of yachts.
Duisburger Hafen AG duisport in Duisburg-Ruhrort is synonymous with logport and its numerous services in the logistics sector successful structural change in the city. Duisburg has trimodal terminals with water, rail and road connections. The Duisburg ports form the largest inland port in the world and the leading logistics hub in Central Europe.
The city administrations are also in contact. Against the background of the 10th anniversary of the partnership in 2021, the contact intensified a lot. Both sides wished for an increased exchange on a professional and civic level. The options for replacing the fire brigades are currently being explored. Another project that is currently in the planning phase is the virtual classroom. Primary schools are brought together for a virtual exchange in order to bridge the enormous time difference. More to: Duisburg's international relations (town twinning | City of Duisburg)
Cosmopolitanism and internationality — since centuries characteristic of Duisburg, where today more than 140 nationalities live together peacefully in the city.
As the largest steel location in Europe and the will to continue to operate at this location in the future, Duisburg's economy is strong even during the Corona crisis. Steel is still produced today in almost the entire city area. More than 50% of European pig iron and a third of German crude steel are produced here.
