SAN FRANCISCO TIES UP WITH BANGALORE

Basavaraj Itnaal, Bangalore
DNA

San Francisco on Monday entered into a Sister City relationship with Bangalore and agreed to evolve a `IT and ITES Sister City Program' to explore new areas of software development, testing, applications and protection of intellectual properties. A similar program for bio technology sector is also envisaged.

The agreement was signed, via video conference link by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) administrator Dilip Rau in Bangalore and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who will visit Bangalore in December.

Each side had two copies of the agreement for cooperation, which were signed at their respective end to seal the agreement. Video-conferencing recordings of agreements are equivalent to legal documents in the USA, providing the credibility to this agreement.

The pact is seen as an opportunity for both cities for increased co-operation in IT sector. As per the MoU, the cities would work towards an investment promotion guide centered around the interests of the industry.