Mayor Eric Johnson is heading to France to strengthen business and tourism ties, foster new partnerships, boost Dallas’ economic growth, and enhance cultural exchange.
The mayor will meet with French business leaders and government officials this week. The purpose of the international visit is to advocate for the city of Dallas’ interests. He will visit Paris and Dijon — one of Dallas’ sister cities.
“Dallas has become an indispensable city on the global stage,” the mayor said in a press release sent to The Dallas Express. “We are a dynamic, thriving, and growing metropolis where the American Dream is still alive and well. And we are thrilled to share our story with — and learn from — our nation’s oldest ally, France.”
According to the Dallas Regional Chamber, trade between France and the Dallas area totaled more than $1.75 billion in 2021.
“It is clear that both Dallas and France have much to gain by bolstering our relationship in the years ahead, and I am excited to continue to build on connections that date back centuries,” said Johnson.
During the trip, Johnson will focus on exchanging policy ideas with French officials pertaining to city design, security, international relations, and the arts. The mayor also plans to meet with top economic and cultural leaders in both Paris and Dijon to spur more commerce between those cities and Dallas, according to the press release.
International relations have been a priority of Johnson’s throughout his administration. When the Trade Office of France opened last year, he said Dallas would “be the epicenter in this part of the country for economic relations with the rest of the world,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“We believe this is going to benefit Dallas enormously, and people will copy this when they realize how smart it is for a city to show these foreign countries that this is the place you want to be,” Johnson said.
Johnson also met with the Swedish ambassador to the United States earlier this year. He discussed potential trade opportunities between Dallas and Sweden and even the potential opening of a Swedish trade office in the Dallas International District, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
Furthermore, the mayor has visited Mexico, Qatar, and Germany within the past two years, working to build economic relationships between Dallas and other parts of the world.
This week’s visit marks Johnson’s first visit to France since the Trade Office of France opened in the Dallas International District last December.
