Illinois Governor Builds Partnerships in Recife

September 27, 2012

Governors Eduardo Campos and Pat Quinn signing the MOU Sister Rivers in Recife

Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn visited Recife this week to build partnerships with the government of Pernambuco along with local teaching and research institutions in the northeastern state. Governor Quinn came to Recife accompanied by a delegation of close to 30 business professionals, educators, and government respresentatives. The governor and delegates also had the opportunity to visit the Port of Suape and meet with the American Chamber of Commerce.

Pat Quinn participated in a signing ceremony of four memoranda of understanding with Pernambuco Governor Eduardo Campos and representatives from each state’s government. One of the four agreements declared the Capibaribe River in Recife and Illnois River in Chicago to be “Sister Rivers.” This agreement will facilitate the sharing of best practices in the areas of water resource management, flood safety, and pollution control, among other things. Memoranda were also signed for research and professional cooperation between the Northeast Center for Strategic Techonologies (CETENE) and the the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT); the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and the University of Illinois; and between the University of Pernambuco (UPE) and the University of Illinois.

Governor Quinn announced yesterday that Pernambuco Governor Eduardo Campos and all Brazilians are welcome in the state of Illinois. His visit marked the first time a standing governor of Illinois has made an official visit to Pernambuco. Quinn was well received by Brazilian business professionals and government officials. During the visit, Governor Campos revealed a special connection to the staet of Illinois, “I was invited to do a graduate program in Illinois but couldn’t go because I was just starting my political career,” said Campos. “And since Pernambuco couldn’t go to Illinois, Illinois came to Pernambuco,” stated Quinn.

Today Brazil is the 5th largest market for Illinois. In 2011 the state’s exports to Brazil were over 2.5 billion dollars, while total Brazilian imports equaled $726 million. During his visit to Brazil,  Governor Quinn also stopped in Sao Paulo, where he signed memoranda of understanding in the areas of Biotechnology and Education. Quinn also participated in a meeting with ministers in Brasilia to discuss the Science without Borders program.