From China to Brazil, Portland city leaders are making a push to develop trade relationships with cities across the world.
To do so, economic developers and company executives are playing to one of Portland's signature strengths: sustainability.
"Sustainability is the door opener, the beginning of the dialogue," said Michael Gurton, Portland Development Commission's international business development officer.
The PDC's program, dubbed "We Build Green Cities," is an ongoing effort to establish "trade city partnerships" with locations looking for services that Portland firms specialize in, like green building design and planning.
The group's first formal trade city partnership was formed with the Brazilian city of Jaragua do Sul. A delegation led by PDC recently visited Colombia's Medellin, a bustling city tucked near the Andes Mountains. The group will head next to Changsha, the capital city of China's Hunan province.
"The end goal is that all of our industries are involved in these trade city partnerships," said Gurton. He says that while sustainable business services open conversations, he's keeping a keen eye on trade opportunities for other Portland industries like software and outdoor apparel.