Delta to sign MoU with MCC for collaborative development

Delta to sign MoU with MCC for collaborative development

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 2: The Mangalore City Corporation’s (MCC) concept of city development has caught the attention of the Corporation of Delta, British Columbia, Canada. Louise Jackson, the mayor of the corporation of Delta, and a team of officials will arrive in Mangalore to sign a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MCC Mayor Rajani Dugganna to collaborate in a bid to develop the two cities as “twin cities.”

How Mangalore got selected

MCC Commissioner Dr. Vijayaprakash said that M. Shankar Bhat, the former mayor, had made a presentation on the development of Mangalore at Bangkok in 2009; and this encouraged the Delta team to select Mangalore for the implementation of a collaborative development programme.

Mr. Bhat said that Mangalore is one of the four Indian cities shortlisted from 120 cities all over the world by the British Columbia Trade and Cultural Development Foundation, which has its offices in New Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai and is working on the initiative of linking cities. Although Vishakapatnam, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram were also shortlisted, Mangalore was finally chosen because it has an international airport, sea port, and railway stations.

The foundation has also been attracted by the development in the education section, said Mr. Bhat. The team was expected to visit in Feb 2009, but the visit was delayed owing to technical reasons.

MCC preparations

The MCC is making preparations to welcome the team in a traditional manner. Besides Mayor Louise Jackson, the team from Delta comprises George Harvie, the chief administrative officer, and Mangit Kiala, the administrative manager. The team will arrive on Oct 11.

Dr. Vijayaprakash told City Herald that the object of the visit is to build a bi-lateral relationship in which the best practices of both the cities will be exchanged. The mayors will sign an MoU on Oct 12, according to which the economic, educational, and cultural development of the cities will be done through collaborative effort and cross-cultural exchange. The tourist potential of both cities will be linked and technologies related to agriculture and other sectors will be exchanged. The commissioner added that discussions will be held with officials and elected representatives, after which Louise Jackson will interact with the media.

MCC is to prepare an 8-page brochure in which the economic, cultural, and educational significance of the city will be highlighted. This brochure will be presented to Mayor Jackson, said Dr. Vijayaprakash.

The team from Delta will be in Mangalore for 3 days and will leave on Oct 14 after taking a tour of the city.