Township Builds Relations With Africa

West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi welcomed delegates from Africa Wednesday to the township as part of a sister city relationship with Athieme, in the Republic of Benin.

"We're doing a joint economic development initiative with the hope that we can swap trade in the form of people interested real estate or business opportunities," said township council President Sal Anderton. "And, I'm hopeful that by having this dialogue, something will come of it."

The unofficial program, headed by the township's Deputy Mayor Zal Velez, is intended to internationalize West Orange.

"We've always been active internationally, but West Orange is a melting pot," he said. "So, now the combination of the Chinese, the U.S. and Africa, we're getting stronger again."

Anderton said last December, the township conducted a similar agreement with a region of China to help student exchanges through the Mandarin Chinese language program at West Orange High School.

Parisi said while though this is an unofficial program by the township, it helps build community.

"When the opportunity was presented, we thought it was a great idea to show the warm hospitality of our community," he said. "We're always excited to have people visit our community and foster good relations from other cities around the world."

Whannou Habib, the mayor of Athieme, said the relationship with the township will help strengthen the community in the U.S. and abroad.

"Today is a sign of the friendship between the city of Athieme and West Orange," he said. "We think this partnership with an Africa city will help grow relations with America."

Athieme is a city in the southern region of Benin near the border of Togo and about 25 miles north of the Gulf of Guinea.