Columbus is a modestly-sized Midwestern city in south-central Indiana, but it’s part of the much larger world thanks to its international ties.
One obvious reason is Cummins Inc., the century-old maker of diesel engines and power systems that has operations in China, India, Brazil and many other countries, and employs many people locally who are from other countries.
Another reason is the sister-city relationships Columbus has with four cities abroad:
Löhne, Germany
Miyoshi, Japan
Xiangyang, China
Pune, India
Pune is the most recent addition to Columbus’ sister-city lineup. The relationship was formalized last fall during an economic investment trip to India by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Jason Hester, president of the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corp.
The relationship was considered a good match because both communities have ties to Cummins, which has operations in Pune.
Recently, a 16-member delegation from Pune, India, reciprocated the gesture and toured Columbus on July 19. Pune Madame Mayor Mukta Tilak and others saw the city’s architecture, met with city leaders and learned about how planning and development is done locally. Tilak said she was especially interested in learning about how the city handles water treatment, waste water and solid waste management.
Such a relationship and sharing of ideas can help the sister cities learn new things that can be taken home and applied. Columbus visitors to its sister cities have learned about how their local governments and schools operate, for example.
These sister-city relationships foster deeper bonds and trust, and create new resources for both communities. These relationships are worthwhile, and make perfect sense for a community that has significant international connections.
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