Two Towns, One Vision: Chandigarh and Moscow Mull Twin City Agreement
Chandigarh, india - In a landmark move signaling strengthened international collaboration, Chandigarh and Moscow are exploring a twin-city agreement, possibly unlocking a range of joint projects and growth initiatives. A draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) outlining the proposed partnership has been sent by S cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, to Chandigarh Mayor harpreet Kaur Babla.
The agreement,once finalized,would pave the way for cooperation between the two cities across diverse sectors including culture,science,urban planning,education,medical research,transport,architecture,and sports.
Discussions regarding the potential partnership began during mayor BablaS representation of India and Chandigarh at the BRICS Urban Future Forum 2025, held in Moscow on September 17 and 18. Cheremin, in a letter to Babla, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We look forward to exploring the possibility of signing the Program of Cooperation between the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and the Government of Moscow.”
Moscow has indicated a strong interest in collaborating on trade, economics, industrial development, and fostering innovative activities. The draft MoU also details plans for strengthening ties between economic entities in both cities and supporting small and medium businesses.
Further areas of proposed cooperation include the exchange of expertise in urban infrastructure development, attracting foreign investment, and advancements in road transport, bright traffic systems, and parking management. Moscow also expressed a desire to share knowledge in urban planning, digitalization, and modernization of housing and communal services.
The partnership extends to environmental initiatives,with plans for exchanging ideas on green spaces and urban improvements,as well as fostering collaborations between educational institutions.
Mayor Babla hailed the development as “historical,” adding, “The city will greatly benefit by the MoU once it is indeed signed.” The Municipal Corporation General House has already approved the proposal, which will now be forwarded to the UT Administration and government for final approval.
