DANAO City has further strengthened its global ties with Japan, following the signing of a Friendship City Partnership Agreement with Namegata City, Japan.
Danao Mayor Mix Durano and Namegata Mayor Shuya Suzuki formalized the partnership, which aims to promote education, cultural exchange, tourism and economic cooperation.
Ahead of the signing, Suzuki and his delegation visited key institutions in Danao, including Cebu Technological University- Danao Campus and Ramon M. Durano Sr. Foundation - Science and Technology Education Center, where they were received by city officials, students and educators. The delegation also explored Tawsan Mangrove Forest Ecopark to learn about Danao’s commitment to sustainability and eco-tourism.
“In Danao City…we don’t just create jobs or scholarship programs; we establish and streamline opportunities through diversification both locally and internationally. Because I personally believe that every Danawanon makes and identifies Danao as the model city of the Province of Cebu—sustainable, resilient and globally competent. This event affirms our city’s initiatives in forging more opportunities for our people,” said Durano.
Key initiatives under the partnership include education and cultural exchanges, such as student-teacher exchange programs, study visits and academic conferences. The agreement also focuses on workforce development, opening study and employment opportunities for Danawanons in Namegata.
Both cities pledged to strengthen trade and business linkages through joint trade fairs, business conferences and investment collaborations. The agreement will also facilitate benchmarking efforts, enabling both local governments to share best practices in governance and development.
Additionally, Danao City also signed a Facilitating Agency Agreement with Achieve Goal Co., Ltd., led by chief executive officer Shuichiro Atsumi, to deploy qualified teachers from Danao to Namegata, further reinforcing their shared dedication to education.
This is not the first time Danao has engaged in international partnerships. The city has an expanding network of foreign allies, including Kashima City and Yokohama City (Japan), Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon State (South Korea) and Belgium.
In a separate interview, Red Durano, former head of the Danao City Investment and Promotions Center said Danao’s strong relationship with Japan stems from the 30-year presence of Cebu Mitsumi Inc.
Red said Danao City stands to benefit from this partnership considering that the economy of Namegata is primarily agriculture. He said both cities could learn from each other’s strengths.
Red added that international partnerships create valuable opportunities for the people of Danao, opening doors for education, employment and cultural exchange. / KOC