Bangalore, San Francisco strengthen sisterhood

Bangalore and San Francisco on Monday signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) strengthening the "sister cities" arrangement. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yedddyurappa and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

"The sister cities concept is unique -- it is two-way; the give and take is shared by both the sides," Yeddyurappa said. "It provides for planned and continuous contact between the cities involved and their citizens." The MoUs were in respect of healthcare, water and sanitation, education and research, art, museum and culture, trade and commerce and fashion technology.

It encourages exchanges in the areas of education, culture and sports besides helping to promote trade and tourism. The two cities signed an MoU in October last year to form sister cities arrangement, aimed at promoting cooperation and understanding between them to partner in economic growth, cultural exchange, knowledge transfer and fostering clean technology.