Bon Voyage: Nutter and Delegation in Paris

Mayor Nutter and a delegation of Philadelphia business leaders arrived in Paris early Thursday morning for a six-day visit the administration is billing as a "business development trip … focused on promoting cycling, commerce and investment in the city."

The administration said the mayor will be meeting with his Paris counterpart, Mayor Anne Hildago; professional cycling executives; and chief executives of "a range of French businesses," including Saint-Gobain, which has its North American headquarters in Valley Forge.

Nutter has taken previous, official trips to London, Tel Aviv and Tianjin, China, and his staff said the Paris voyage "builds on the goals and successes" of those sojourns, which promoted the city as "a world-class destination for tourism and an excellent location for businesses to consider."

Mayor Nutter and his wife, Lisa, also plan to inspect the Paris bicycle sharing system, Velib', the third-largest program in the world. Philadelphia is set to implement its own, maiden bike sharing program, after City Council gave approval this spring.

Nutter and his wife also plan to attend the Tour de France, which ends this weekend in Paris.

Nutter also plans to travel to Lyon to meet with French and American company executives, as well as representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

The city will cover the cost of the mayor's flight, but not his lodging or meals. The city is not paying any travel costs for Lisa Nutter.

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