From Plymouth UK to Plymouth MA

A delegation from Plymouth UK will be heading stateside as part of a mission to strengthen trade and tourism links and help cement the special relationship between the two Plymouths.

Plymouth, Massachusetts will be welcoming representatives from Plymouth, UK as part of a five-day visit from 20 May.

The visit will include a formal reaffirmation of the strong links between the two Plymouths at a short celebration on the Mayflower. There will also be detailed discussions on plans for the Plymouth 2020 celebrations where both cities will mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower.

The delegation is being organised by the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry and follows a visit last year by a delegation from Plymouth MA.

Discussions are already underway with business partners in Plymouth, Massachusetts, exploring opportunities to work together for the Mayflower 400 celebrations. There are also plans to target visitors from the east coast of America as part of this city’s long-term Visitor Plan.

The visit to New England will include trips to the Plimoth Plantation as well as look at hi-tech manufacturing facilities and the area’s cultural and educational offers.

The two Plymouths will look at strengthening the links between these establishments as well as exploring further potential trade and development links and the tourism sector.

Deputy Leader Councillor Peter Smith, will be part of the group alongside Chris Grace, the Council’s Head of Economy, Enterprise and Employment. The delegation will also include representatives from Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Destination Plymouth, Plymouth University, Plymouth Culture Board and City College Plymouth.

Councillor Smith said: “We’ve a lot of very exciting ideas bubbling away in Plymouth UK and are hoping to make our links even stronger with our counterparts in Massachusetts. 2020 is a landmark anniversary and we want to create a transatlantic cultural celebration fit for a global audience.

“This is an amazing opportunity for Plymouths on both sides of the Atlantic and while it seems a long way away, there is a lot to do.”

Paul Woods, Chairman of Plymouth Chamber, said: “This visit will further strengthen the burgeoning relationship between the two Plymouths. The Chamber teams have been working closely together since last October and our trip will enable several of these initiatives to accelerate more quickly.”

Denis Hanks, Executive Director of the American Plymouth Chamber said: "We are very excited about the arrival of our Plymouth UK partners in May as we continue to foster an expanded spirit of cooperation between the two Plymouths on both the tourism and commerce fronts. With just over six years until the 2020 celebrations begin, the timing is perfect for this continued discussion between our two communities."

The final day of the tour will entail a visit to the Boston Statehouse for a meeting with the president of the Massachusetts Senate Therese Murray and invited guests.

Last month the Leader of Plymouth City Council wrote to the Prime Minister to call for the support of world leaders for an international event to celebrate Mayflower 2020.

Councillor Tudor Evans urged David Cameron to acknowledge Mayflower 2020 in Plymouth as the official UK festival and to lend his support for a plan to invite the US President and Prime Minister to visit Plymouth while world leaders are in the UK for the G8 summit.