Alderman George A. Cardenas (D-12) hosted a delegation of Colombian dignitaries in Chicago this week. The delegation included twelve city councilmen from Santiago de Cali, Colombia who have traveled to Chicago in hopes of developing a mutually beneficial relationship between the two cities.

During their trip, the councilmen gained insight into how the City of Chicago approaches a variety of topics, including public-private sector partnerships, urban planning, infrastructure, civic culture, sustainable urban environments, competitiveness and innovation, public services, education, and transportation.

Santiago de Cali is the third largest city in Colombia with a population of 2.5 million, is the principal urban, cultural, and economic site in southwest Colombia, and has one of the fastest growing economies and infrastructure in the country due to its geographical location.

The visit to Chicago follows a trip taken to Santiago de Cali by a U.S. delegation last November, which included Alderman Cardenas and other local businessmen in the areas of architecture, engineering, construction, and healthcare. While in Colombia, the U.S. delegation attended a Cali city council meeting and a conference hosted by the Mayor of Cali to promote business and improve infrastructure in the City of Cali.

While in Chicago, the delegation attended Wednesday’s city council meeting, met Mayor Emanuel, met with the Chicago City Council Hispanic Caucus, toured the 311 call center, toured a mental health facility, received a presentation on urban planning from the Department of Housing and Economic Development, and toured the Jardine water treatment plant. They also visited Navy Pier and took an architectural boat tour down the Chicago River. “I think that it is important for Chicago as a global city to expand our view beyond the borders of the United States. Chicago is a world class city and we have a wealth of information and experience that could benefit other cities around the world,” said Alderman Cardenas.