Chandigarh, October 19:- A two-member delegation from New Zealand visited the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and met City Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi and MC Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, to explore possibilities of establishing friendly relations between Chandigarh and Rotorua, New Zealand. The delegation comprised Dr. Pim Borren, Chief Executive, and Sh. Paramdip Singh, Director – Special Projects, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, New Zealand.

During the meeting, discussions focused on potential areas of cooperation, including cultural exchange, tourism, environmental sustainability, innovation, and sharing of best practices in urban development and civic administration. The interaction provided an opportunity to explore how the two cities could benefit from mutual learning, knowledge sharing and collaborative initiatives.

Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi welcomed the proposal to strengthen ties between Chandigarh and Rotorua and highlighted the importance of international cooperation in promoting sustainable urban development, cultural understanding and innovative civic practices. He emphasised that such partnerships could facilitate the exchange of experiences and help identify practical initiatives for the benefit of residents.

Ms. Tania Tapsell, Mayor of Rotorua, in her communication to the Mayor of Chandigarh, expressed interest in establishing a friendly relationship between Chandigarh and Rotorua. She described Rotorua as a culturally rich district renowned for its geothermal landscapes, Māori heritage, tourism and sustainability initiatives. She also highlighted the common ground shared by the two cities, including their distinctive cultural identities and rich histories.

Ms. Tapsell emphasised the importance of developing meaningful and manageable partnerships that deliver mutual benefits and expressed interest in exploring practical avenues of cooperation. She also extended an invitation to Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi to visit Rotorua in the future.

The visit marked a positive step towards exploring international cooperation between Chandigarh and Rotorua, with discussions focusing on identifying suitable areas for future engagement, institutional collaboration and the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh continues to explore opportunities for constructive international partnerships that can contribute to sustainable urban development, strengthen civic governance, promote cultural understanding and foster institutional ties for mutual benefit.