International Relations
Kobe-Ahmedabad Sister Cities
- 29 Jun 2019
- 2 min read
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of sister-city partnership was signed by Japan and India during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit for 2019 G20 Osaka summit in Japan.
- It will cultivate, promote and enhance opportunities on the business, academic and cultural front between Kobe in Hyogo, Japan and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India.
- In November 2016, India and Japan signed a sister-state relationship MoU for Gujarat and Hyogo prefecture.
- The MoU sought to promote mutual cooperation between Gujarat and Hyogo in the fields of academics, business, cultural cooperation, disaster management and environmental protection.
- Kobe is the capital city of Hyogo. Indian Prime Minister had visited a bullet train plant in Kobe.
- India is building its first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad with Japan's help.
- The UNESCO has recognized Ahmedabad as the World Heritage City and Kobe as the Creative Design City, and therefore, both are recognized by the world as cities of repute.
- This common thread will help people connect and this is very important for the growth on other fronts.
- Kobe already has a large section of Gujarati community.
Sister City
- The concept of sister cities or twin towns is a legal and social agreement between towns, cities, counties, oblasts, prefectures, provinces, regions, states between two separate countries to promote cultural and commercial ties.
- The plan was conceived after the end of World War II to promote peaceful coexistence and to encourage trade and tourism.
- In diplomacy, this concept is seen as a way to enhance strategic ties between the two nations, both cultural as well as economic.
- In 2013, India signed the sister city agreements with China -- the pairs were Delhi-Beijing, Bengaluru-Chengdu and Kolkata-Kunming.
