The Hindu 19.02.2015
German city promises technical assistance to Coimbatore
Jurgen Zieger
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.