By Nangamso Mabindla
7 February 2006

A DELEGATION from Buffalo City's Swedish twin city, Gävle, has arrived in the South African town for the annual review of the twinning arrangement.

Mayor Sindisile Maclean welcomed the delegation on Sunday, 5 February, saying he could not wait to work with them. Speaking at the welcoming at the Orient Pools, Maclean said he hoped the visit would be fruitful.

"We always look forward to your visit to our city. Your being here strengthens our twinning and I look forward to discussing the successes and the way forward of our partnership."

The visit is also part of an agreement to hold joint steering committee meetings every six months to review progress made in the two cities. In addition, the twice-yearly meetings are opportunities to establish new objectives and goals. The next meeting will be in Gävle in August.

Gävle Mayor Mats Ågren echoed MacLean's words, saying that he hoped a way forward would be found for the two cities in terms of their twinning agreement at the meetings, to be held on Monday and Tuesday.

"Our partnership is very important to the city of Gävle and we always look forward to coming here and sharing ideas about where we can take our partnership. I am happy to be here and I know our visit will be worth our while," Ågren said.