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Culture Economy

Mayor of Austin commits to visiting Greater Manchester following successful trade mission to Texas


  • Mayor of Austin to visit Greater Manchester in summer of 2026, with delegation of business, culture, and sport leaders  
  • Mayor Andy Burnham and Cllr Bev Craig led a Greater Manchester delegation of civic, business and education leaders to Austin to foster new partnerships and promote GM’s dynamic music scene and creative industries
  • At global tech, music and culture event South by South West (SXSW), Mayor announces launch of UK's first dedicated Music Export Office to help local artists access international markets while bringing world-class talent to Greater Manchester's stages

Following a successful mission to promote economic and cultural ties, the Mayor of Austin has confirmed that he will visit Greater Manchester with his own delegation of business leaders in 2026.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council have signed a Friendship Cities Agreement with Austin Mayor, Kirk Watson, setting them on the path to becoming formal sister-cities.

While in Austin, Mayor Burnham promoted Greater Manchester’s world-renowned music scene, introducing rising star of hip-hop and drum and bass, OneDa, on stage at the SXSW festival.

The trip marked the official launch of Greater Manchester's Music Export Office - a UK first that will use strategic partnerships, talent development programmes and global outreach like this trip to ensure its home-grown talent can thrive nationally and internationally. The Office will be backed by a £300,000 investment from Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“This has been a hugely successful mission to Austin.  We have forged new ties and strengthened existing ones, so we can support each other to make the most of our stellar growth.

“Austin and Manchester have so much in common. We are the fastest-growing cities in the UK and US but we’re also places with a real focus on people, music, culture and everything that makes life great. We don't just adapt to change – we lead it.

“Whether in tech, music, academia or business, we are ready to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and create opportunities that will benefit businesses and residents on both sides of the Atlantic.”

The Mayor and Cllr Craig were joined by five highly successful Greater Manchester-based businesses who were looking to export into Texas and the US. Industry ties were forged through meetings with a range of different business sector representatives including economic roundtables with organisations such as global infrastructure consultants AECOM and the Texas Association of Business. 

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth, said: 

"Manchester is going from strength to strength and we seized the opportunity to showcase our economic and cultural strengths during this trade mission to Austin and at the global SXSW conference.

"Cities working together has never been more important and this developing and dynamic partnership with Austin - the fastest-growing city in the United States - has enormous potential to open up opportunities in fields including science, tech, education and music.

"Our trade mission met with many global firms and is already helping to secure jobs and investment for the city. We look forward to continuing to build on this growing relationship in the years ahead."

The University of Manchester also signed a new university-wide strategic partnership with the University of Texas at Austin. This paves the way for collaborative research and teaching initiatives between the two world-leading universities. The partnership will allow them to share research expertise across the disciplines including engineering, nanotechnologies, cancer research, digital humanities, social sciences, and creative industries.

When signing the Friendship Cities agreement, Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin declared 7 March ‘Greater Manchester Day’ in Austin.

Mayor of Austin Kirk Watson said: 

“This Friendship Cities Agreement with Greater Manchester is more than just a document—it’s a bridge between two innovation-driven, culture-rich cities.

“Austin thrives on creativity, entrepreneurship, and connection, and Greater Manchester mirrors that energy. By joining forces, we are setting the stage for incredible collaborations that will inspire growth and opportunity in both cities.”

Article Published: 12/03/2025 09:57 AM