WEST JORDAN — The World Trade Association of Utah will be hosting its first World Trade Association Sister Cities International Event Friday, May 12. The event will take place at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 W. 3100 South, West Valley City, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and includes a luncheon and two speakers.

It will be an opportunity for business leaders or interested individuals to find out more about being involved in the Sister Cities International program.

Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between the United States and international communities in an effort to stimulate economic development and increase global cooperation. Utah has more than 40 international partnerships, said Jennifer Andelin, Utah State Coordinator for Sister Cities International.

Representatives from Sister Cities in Utah will have displays on the activities their cities have done through the partnerships and will be available both before and after the luncheon to answer questions. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and Robert R. Heuermann Jr. will speak at the event.

Heuermann serves as the executive director of both the World Trade Center St. Louis and the St. Louis Center for International Relations. He has successfully combined Sister City work with economic development. St. Louis currently has 13 Sister City relationships.

Andelin says being involved in a Sister Cities partnership is a good way to improve the image of Americans in the eyes of foreigners whose image of them is based largely on the American programming they have access to, namely nighttime television, movies and soap operas.

"Really (the organization) is to create peace," Andelin said. "We do have a positive influence in areas of the world we are working in. The U.S. could use a lot more of that."

Utah cities involved in the program participate in a variety of activities including cultural, educational, business/trade partnerships as well as student, university and high school exchanges. Sister City partnerships are made based on something common and unique between the two cities.

For example, West Jordan's partnership with Votkinsk, Russia came from a military tie — during the Cold War, several Russian military inspectors lived in a secure compound in West Jordan for a period of 13 years monitoring Utah industries, as several American inspectors lived in Russia.

Other cities from around the region who participate in the program include Sandy, West Valley City, Murray, Tooele, Ogden, St. George, Salt Lake City and Magna. Draper is forming a Sister City partnership.

Anyone interested in attending the luncheon should RSVP to Jennifer Goff at the Global Management Center, 801-422-6495 with their name, company, e-mail address and phone number, or e-mail the same information to info@WTAofUtah.com. All RSVPs are due by 5 p.m. Monday, May 8. The cost to attend is $30 for nonmembers of Sister Cities, and the cost for paid members depends on their membership status.

The key to improving international relations, Andelin says, is culture. "Culture is extremely important," she said. "Culture is the basis of understanding."

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E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com