On the eve of the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Lord Mayor of Adelaide Dr Jane Lomax-Smith officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Athens Mayor Dr Haris Doukas, formalising the Sister City relationship between the two capitals.
The landmark signing cements a growing partnership between Adelaide and Athens, strengthening collaboration in areas including culture, tourism, innovation, commerce, and environmental sustainability.
“Today, I joined Athens Mayor Haris Doukas in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Greek capital,” Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith said on social media.
“I was delighted that Mayor Haris Doukas of Athens wrote to me suggesting that we meet at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio De Janeiro, which kicks off tomorrow. This MOU, approved by Council this year, will deepen cooperation between Adelaide and Athens in culture, tourism, innovation and sustainable urban living.”
Speaking to The Greek Herald, Councillor Mary Couros of the Adelaide City Council — who has championed the initiative since the start of the Council’s term— reflected proudly on the signing.
“Adelaide’s Sister City relationship is a celebration of our multicultural identity and the strong global connections we continue to build. As a Greek Australian, I’m honoured to see the spirit of partnership and cultural exchange reflected in this important milestone,” Cr Couros said.
Dr Alexandra Theodoropoulou, Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, also expressed her delight at the agreement’s signing. She described the MoU as “promising”, saying it will “make both cities better”, and shared that she was “looking forward to enhancing the partnership [of the two cities] through culture, education, innovation and diplomacy.”
The Consul General also observed that the meeting in-person between the two Mayors represented a “true sister city agreement”, their leadership being a charming personification of the bond between Adelaide and Athens.
