San Antonio's Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones gave a warm welcome to a business delegation from the Canary Islands yesterday, emphasizing the growth of international relationships and the potential for economic opportunities between the two regions. The delegation was led by the Honorable Oswaldo Betancort García, President of the Lanzarote Island Council, and included members from sectors like tourism, culture, and food and wine industries.
"It is an honor to welcome President Oswaldo Betancort García on the Lazarote 360 Saborea Mission as we solidify our continued work together and identify new opportunities for business development," Mayor Jones stated, as reported by the official San Antonio government website. The visit is part of an ongoing effort to build and strengthen business ties. Delegates from San Antonio's local government and business representatives joined the meeting, signaling a strong interest in fostering economic and cultural exchanges.
The meeting saw the coming together of not just political heavyweights but also key players from the hospitality and small business sectors, who are often the backbone of local economies. Both parties tabled discussions on facilitating two-way tourism and improving the support network for small businesses. “San Antonio is continuing to showcase the opportunities we offer on a global scale, and we look forward to building our international relationships to foster a thriving San Antonio,” explained Mayor Jones during the gathering as per the City of San Antonio website.
The San Antonio delegation included names such as Dr. Jenise Carroll, Chief of Staff to the Mayor; Mr. Leo Castillo-Anguiano, Interim Councilmember, District 2; and Ms. Shahrzad “Sherry” Dowlatshahi, Chief Diplomacy and Protocol Officer. The Lanzarote party also featured prominent figures including Ms. María Ascensión Toledo, Councilmember for Education, and Mr. Hector Fernández Manchado, CEO of the Tourism Board. For San Antonio, these connections mark not just a chance for cultural exchange, but also for tangible economic gains through partnerships, knowledge sharing, and tourism.
The visit coincides with San Antonio's broader initiative to engage internationally, as the city has recently hosted a Taiwanese delegation focused on manufacturing. For more details on the visit, see the news release on the city's official website.
