Seven MoUs bind San Francisco, city in sisterhood

On Monday, Bangalore and San Francisco entered into memoranda of understanding that will make the two sister cities. A 50-member delegation from San Francisco, on a three-day visit to Bangalore, was at Vidhana Soudha on Monday.

Seven separate memoranda of understanding were signed. The sister city project is envisaged as a way of bringing together two cities geographically and politically distinct, and forging ties between them based on shared commercial and cultural interests.

Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa remarked that the cities of Bangalore and San Francisco have much in common, referring to both cities being hubs of IT activity and diverse populations. Yeddyurappa indicated that the signing of the memoranda would foster international understanding and friendship.

“The sister city arrangement helps in promoting cooperation and understanding between the two cities, and will make the two partners in economic growth. Cultural exchanges and knowledge transfer, fostering the use of green technology to reduce pollution, and ensuring sustainable development will all be part of this relationship,” he said.

Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom said, “The MoUs relate to the sister city project for four years.”