San Diego sees business opportunities twinning with Porto advance

A San Diego's International Gemini Cities Association sees business opportunities, cultural connections and exchanges in the twinning of Southern California City with Porto, Executive Director Jessica Censusotti told Lusa.

“We have already launched a relationship of friendship between the two communities, a partnership that is very important between San Diego and Porto,” said the person responsible. “The Portuguese-American community is very strong, we have a rich and vibrant history that really shaped the identity of San Diego,” he said.

The city of Southern California, which houses a Portuguese community of about 20,000 people, still has no twinning relationship with Portugal.

Honorary member of the Sister Cities International Board, Michael McQuary, explained that the partnership begins with friendship and only later, if both parties consider twinning advantageous, is taken the next step.

Porto and San Diego have in common the coastal location, a “blue” economy, good universities, relevant biotechnology projects and considerable dimensions – Porto is the second largest Portuguese city, San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States.

“ Our partnership with Porto is very important, because we also share the maritime heritage, which is fundamental”, said Censotti. “It is important that we have linked our two cities, our businesses, our community, our universities, our students and exchanges.”.

San Diego currently has 24 twinnings with cities around the world and several concrete examples of related advances. One is the establishment of the first direct flight between San Diego and Paris, which Air France will launch in May 2027. The twinning between San Diego and Marseille in 2025 was one of the arguments used to convince the airline to launch the new route.

“ These are business links, cultural links, educational exchanges, as I have said, linking our students, our companies, but mainly the diplomacy of citizens to citizens and what we believe to be friendship,” Jessica Censustti described. “The friendship between two cities and two people, that’s what makes a difference.”.

The two leaders spoke on the margins of the Annual Forum organised by the San Diego International Affairs Board, where the positive moment in the city was discussed.

After receiving preparation games for the 2026 World Cup, San Diego prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will take place in Los Angeles, but where the city will play a role: hosts Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, one of the largest sports training centers in the country.

“ We have this opportunity, with sport, to connect our cities to the world,” Michael McQuary said.

The Honorary Consul of Portugal in San Diego, Idalmiro da Rosa, considered that the twinning “made all sense”, due to the similarities between the cities.

“ We have very compatible universities in terms of health in terms of engineering. We have the great culture, we have the great monuments here also, as there in Porto ", highlighted. “Even the wines themselves”.

He recalled that FairJourney Biologics, founded in Porto in 2012, opened advanced laboratories in San Diego in 2026.

Also the technology of i-charging Portuense began to be used in the electric vehicle charging network of San Diego, through a partnership with EVerged. “I think many doors could be opened for many for business exchanges,” Idalmiro da Rosa said.

The friendship between Porto and San Diego was established in May 2023.