Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs will join 11 other mayors from around the country who will travel to Saudi Arabia next month as part of a goodwill trip paid for by the Saudi Embassy.

Mark Burroughs

While honored by the invitation, Burroughs said he has three main purposes for going: building an understanding between the two cultures, expanding Denton business and finding out about Saudi water distribution.

“I am a great believer in making the world a smaller place,” Burroughs said. “I believe it’s every individual’s responsibility to promote goodwill and understanding.”

The trip is scheduled for May 7 to 14 and includes mayors from cities in New Jersey, Minnesota, Virginia, Iowa, Arizona, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and Arkansas. Diversity was the goal when selecting the mayors, said Abdul Mohsen Alyas, spokesman for the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Washington, D.C.

This will be the second mayoral delegation to go to Saudi Arabia. The first made the trip in November during the presidential election, Alyas said.

“It is for the mayors to get to understand Saudi Arabia, to enhance relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States on different grounds. The other goal is education to let them know more about a key player in Middle Eastern politics,” he said.

Alyas said the mayors have various goals for the trip.

Burroughs said one of his most important goals originated from his concern about North Texas’ water supply.

“The long-term future of water availability is the largest single threat to the future vitality of our region,” he said.

Burroughs said he has already made some inquiries about discussing how Saudi officials are able to provide water to a large number of people in their growing cities.

“What methodology do they use to implement a program that benefits their population?” he asked.

“I look forward to see how they can do that, given the availability of water is exceedingly limited.”

There are some companies in Denton that have done business in the Saudi region, and Burroughs said he will promote Denton business on the trip if he can.

Denton has a chance to gain greater recognition in the world with the trip, Burroughs said.

“When the U.S. Conference of Mayors asked me, I felt Denton needs to take its place among the cities of this country as we grow,” he said.

Denton has been growing quickly, Burroughs said, and the city needs more on the public relations side of things.

“I made it my position to be a cheerleader of Denton to help others, and let other mayors know who we are and what’s happening in Denton, Texas,” Burroughs said.

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com  .