EU project boosts cooperation between the City of Kochi, India and the City of Vilnius

 

Within the framework of the European Union, International Urban Cooperation project, a delegation of five Kochi City representatives led by the honourable Deputy Mayor Mr. T.J. Vinod, is visiting the City of Vilnius between 5-9^th of November 2018. The Indian delegation is being informed about best practices in urban development projects in Vilnius, smart city initiatives, solid waste management, sustainable transport and other topics. The five days program is a mix of practical and theoretical exposure to various success stories in urban development. In order to enhance the quality of life in urban areas the two cities will work together on a specific action plan on urban issues.

Mr. Remigijus Šimašius, honourable mayor of Vilnius said: “We welcome the Kochi delegation to the City of Vilnius and are happy to participate in this European Union knowledge exchange program. Our city has taken a number of effective initiatives in the fields of sustainable transport, solid waste management and smart development, and we are ready to share this experience. City to city cooperation on urban issues can lead to a more sustainable world in line with international guidelines.”

Mr. T.J. Vinod stated: “We are impressed with the urban infrastructure systems in the City of Vilnius and we look forward to examining how to implement some key best practices in Kochi. We found a lot of useful possibilities as part of this collaboration, especially in the areas of solid waste management and sustainable transport. As part of the EU project, we are looking forward to a productive cooperation and exchange of ideas to the benefit of both cities.”

IUC/India, is part of the corresponding global IUC Programme. It is financed by the European Union, and implemented by a consortium of GFA Consulting Group GmbH (leader) and CRISIL. The IUC aims to boost cooperation on sustainable urban development with EU partners in Asia and the Americas.