The city of Columbus welcomed a 16-member delegation of city and business officials from its newest international sibling, Pune, India, on Friday.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Pune Madame Mayor Mukta Tilak formalized a sister city relationship last fall during Lienhoop’s trip to the country with Jason Hester, Greater Economic Development Corp. president.
Lienhoop and Hester spent parts of four days in Pune, including a Nov. 1 meeting with Tilak when the mayors signed a memorandum of understanding, initiating a relationship focused on promoting cultural, business, education and governmental exchanges.
During their one-night stay in the Hoosier state’s architectural hub, the delegation, made up of Pune City Council members, business representatives and Tilak herself, indulged in all the city has to offer.
The visit included a guided architecture tour through the city, meetings with city and business leaders and a touch-a-truck event where the delegates could see and experience Columbus’ own public works and safety vehicles.
“A sister city relationship is like that two cities should come together and work for citizens, humanity, art, culture, heritage and should exchange such type of activities or should exchange technology and infrastructure so that there would be a remarkable, monumental relationship between the two cities,” Tilak said.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
