Mayor of the city of  Hartford in the State of Connecticut, U.S, Mr Eddie Perez, on Monday pledged to support President Umaru Yar'Adua's Vision 2020.

A proclamation signed by Perez, said that the support would be geared towards actualising the vision aimed at growing the Nigerian economy to be among the world's top 20 in 2020.

"President Umaru Yar'Adua has declared his intention to grow Nigeria's economy to be among the world's largest economies by the year 2020 and we hereby pledge to contribute to that" it declared.

The document, with the city's seal, was presented in Hartford at a ceremony organised by a group of Nigerian professionals living in the U.S., to mark the country's 47th Independence Anniversary.The mayor also proclaimed that the city would join Nigerians every year to celebrate her Independence Day as part of efforts to foster bilateral relations between the city and Nigeria. He described Nigerians living in the city as a ``well established and significant community whose support to the development of Hartford has been tremendous''

Perez said that a committee would be formed by the city council to formalise the support for the 2020 vision.

Receiving the document, Nigeria's Consul-General in New York Ibrahim Auwalu, thanked the mayor and the city's council for the honour done to Nigeria.

I will never forget this day. It is a significant day in the relationship between the two countries, Auwalu said, and advised Nigerians living in the U.S. to register their associations with his office.
The idea is to help coordinate our activities, he explained.

"Auwalu urged the city's business community to always liaise with the consulate for genuine investment opportunities in Nigeria."
Do not go it alone, go through government officials for proper guidance and connections to Nigeria and its people, he added.