Sister City Program
Gladstone Saiki Sister City Advisory Committee
Agendas and Meeting Minutes of the Advisory Committee
Saiki Sister City 25th Anniversary Celebration

Sister City Program

The Sister City movement is a worldwide concept focusing on community values and exchanges that encourage international understanding and appreciation of different nationalities and cultures. The concept originated in the United States of America shortly after World War II. In 1980 the Australian Sister City Association (ASCA) was founded and today there are more than 200 Australian towns and cities with more than 460 overseas affiliations. ASCA is part of an international effort to encourage understanding and co-operation.

The Gladstone Region’s Sister City relationship with Saiki City, Japan began more than 25 years ago in 1996 and is centred around a lasting and meaningful relationship that encourages, promotes and enhances the connection with Saiki City

A Gladstone Regional Council delegation travelled to Japan in July 2019 with the Mayor speaking at many events and highlighting tourist attractions, business and trade opportunities and similarities between the two areas.

The exchange of knowledge, culture and education has been invaluable over the years with both Gladstone and Saiki benefiting from this long stand friendship.

Saiki City, in Oita Prefecture, is located on Japan's southern island of Kyushu, 780km south-west of Tokyo and 150km east of Fukuoka City. It is the fifth largest city in the eastern prefecture of Oita and the centre of the south-east region of Oita. Saiki is pleasantly located on Saiki Bay, part of the Bungo Channel that feeds the Inland Sea of Japan (Setonaikai).

Situated on the coastline Saiki experiences mild weather all year round due to the influence of the warm currents along the Bungo Channel. Rainfall is most prevalent from June to early July, and the chance of snow is limited.

Demographics of Saiki include:

• Area 197 km2
• Population 51,675
• Number of workers 25,098
• Households 19,426
• Schools 21
• Businesses 3324.

Major Industries include: 

• Local produce, mainly strawberries
• Cement
• Shipbuilding
• Fridges/Freezers
• Pearls
• Roses
• Dried Fish
• Yellowtail.

Gladstone – Saiki Sister City Events:

• Saiki Children’s Art Exhibitions
• Intercity Images
• Saiki Children’s Day
• Gladstone – Saiki Photographic Exchange
• Multicultural Festival Sister City Stall
• Book Exchange Program
• School Exchange Visits
• Mayoral, Councillor and ‘Get to know Gladstone’ Visits.

Please contact Council’s Council’s Community and Neighbourhood Centre on (07) 4976 6300 or email info@gladstone.qld.gov.au for more information.

Saiki City website

Gladstone Saiki Sister City Advisory Committee

As part of the Sister City program Gladstone Regional Council support the Gladstone Saiki Sister City Advisory Committee as a recognised advisory committee to Council. The committee was first established in 1997 with the purpose to provide Council with strategic advice and support on ways to enhance the sister city program and relationship. The Committee undertakes the facilitation and organisation of arts, cultural, social and recreational exchanges and activities with the objective of nurturing and fostering the sister city relationship, celebrating diversity within the Gladstone Region and creating a more connected community. The committee meet once a month from February – November inclusive.

Agendas and Meeting Minutes of the Advisory Committee