Bangalore likely to be a sister city of San Francisco

Bangalore, May 11 (UNI) San Francisco, the West Coast city of the United States, has taken an initiative to rope in Bangalore for sister city arrangement on the line of China's Shanghai, Mr Jim Herlihy, high level representative from the office of the Mayor San Francisco informed here, last night.

Speaking after attending a reception meeting hosted by Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mr Jim said both Bangalore and San Francisco shared common features in many areas.

He said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsoms had shown keen interest to have Bangalore, the technical hub of India, as its sister city and taken initiative to complete the formalities. He added the Mayor was scheduled to visit Bangalore next year once a Memorandum of Understanding with the Karnataka Government was signed in this direction.

Mr Jim said, two technically advanced cities share many common things and some very different and becoming two sister cities would help to forge lasting relationship. It will also facilitate better trade, cultural and educational opportunities.

''Bangalore will be a great partner to work with and Bangalore city was stand-out with most logical conditions when Mayor of the San Francisco looking for an Indian city for sister city relationship'', he said.

He said he had held talks with the state Chief Secretary P B Mahishi and other senior officials concerned on the proposal and the response was exciting. He expressed confidence that signing of accord for the MOU, would be done shortly.

UNI