The Hindu 19.02.2015
German city promises technical assistance to Coimbatore
German city Esslingen am Neckar is ready to help Coimbatore by providing technical assistance and manpower in the areas of climate change, waste management, clean power generation and a few other areas, Mayor Jurgen Zieger has said.
But it will not provide any financial assistance, he clarified while addressing a meeting at the Coimbatore Corporation.
His comments come in the wake of efforts the Coimbatore Corporation has been taking to sign a memorandum of understanding with the German city to forge twin-city partnership to avail of assistance in waster water treatment, solid waste management, water to energy projects, students exchange and a few other areas.
Mr. Zieger said that along with a few European cities Esslingen am Neckar has formed a not-for-profit company that is aimed at providing technological assistance to cities for clean power generation and waste water treatment. Coimbatore could be a beneficiary if the agreement were to come through.
The two cities have been keen on forging partnership for the past four years or so after the formation of the Esslingen Coimbatore Association (ESSCOM) and start of student exchange programme. This time, though, the student exchange programme could extend to Coimbatore Corporation school students, he added.
Minister for Municipal Administration S.P Velumani said the cities could leverage each other’s strength for their development. Coimbatore had a strong foundation in engineering and textile industries, technical education and a few other areas. It was fast emerging as a medical tourism destination. And, its strengths included its hospitality.
He promised to pursue the matter with the State Government to facilitate the twin-city agreement.
The German Mayor had earlier addressed the Coimbatore Corporation Council in this regard on Monday.
Collector Archana Patnaik, Mayor P. Rajkumar, Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan and Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan were present at the meeting.
