ABOUT

Population: 6 million+

Prefecture: Lille

President: Xavier Bertrand

Sister State formed: 2020

INITIATIVES

The relationship between Hauts de France and Maryland encourages the exchange and cooperation in a wide range of areas. These include: education, aeronautics, cultural exchange, bio-technology, cyber-security, and the equine industries of each region.

Both Maryland and Hauts de France have a series of committees that come together and organize various strategies together in the fields of education, business, and culture. These committees meet regularly and consult industry specialists for input and guidance in these fields. 

THE LATEST

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on December 2nd, 2020 by Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan and Hauts-de-France region President Xavier Bertrand at the Washington D.C. French Embassy and U.S. Embassy in Paris, respectively. 

Maryland and Nord-Pas-de-Calais, the northernmost region of France, were established as Sister States in 1981. Recent changes in the French regional system brought a merge of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy into Hauts-de-France, necessitating the reaffirmation of the earlier MOU.

Governor Hogan was joined for the MOU signing in Washington by Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of France in the United States.

FUTURE PLANS

Future endeavors for this relationship include both university and high school level student exchanges between institutions within the regions. This includes a planned exchange with St. Omer High School students.

In addition, a delegation of French officials will be in attendance at the Maryland CCI5* in October 2021 in order to cultivate and maintain stronger ties within the equine industry.

CONTACT

Patrick Capurro- capurro98@aol.com

Candice Kelly- candicekq@gmail.com