Siaya County, Kenya Located on the eastern banks of Lake Victoria, Siaya County supports a strong fishing industry with a number of hatcheries along the waterfront communities. Agriculture is the main economic force for the county with local production of rice, cotton, coffee, sugarcane, and tobacco. Siaya County is looking to establish its first U.S. sister city.

Sloviansk, Ukraine A city in the Donetsk Oblast, Sloviansk was founded in 1676 and built its economy on salt production. Today, the community is a producer of machinery and chemical equipment. Heavily affected by the Siege of Sloviansk the community is looking to rebound and strengthen relationships with the U.S.

Vientiane, Laos Located on the Mekong River, Vientiane is the capital and largest city of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Vientiane serves as the economic force for the country with rapidly growing economic sector since the opening of the country’s stock exchange in 2011. The capital city is home to more than 780,000 residents and is interested in developing its first U.S. sister city partnership.

Kavajë, Albania Kavajë is located on the western bank of the Adriatic Sea in the country’s Western Lowlands. Provided the regional climate, Kavajë cultivates a strong agricultural industry with thousands of acres of fruit and vegetable produce. Home to more than 75,000 residents, the community fosters a strong healthcare and education system. With a rich culture, the Kavajë is looking to establish its first sister city relationship with a community in the U.S.

Montevideo, Uruguay With more than 1.3 million residents, Montevideo is the largest city in the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. The community hosts a “thriving tech center and entrepreneurial culture” and has consistently been rated to have the highest quality of life of any city in Latin America. With a rich culture and history, Montevideo is looking to engage cultural, educational, and economic exchanges with a new sister city in the U.S.

Ourense, Spain Galicia’s third-largest city has a spruced-up labyrinth of a historic quarter and a lively tapas scene. One of the main tourist attractions is Ourense thermal baths, as Ourense holds one of the greatest amount of geothermal water in Europe. The economy in the city of Ourense is marked by a predominance of service sector, the city has the largest shopping and leisure in the province, and administrative services as well as construction. The city is home to the University of Vigo and the Ourense Hospital Complex which are a vital role in the community.

Taza, Morocco Located in Northern Morocco, Taza serves as the corridor between the Rif Mountains and the Middle Atlas Mountains. It is home to more than 144,000 residents and is the capital of the Taza province. A vastly historical center for Morocco, Taza is experiencing a resonance into the modern era and is considered the urban center for the region.