India and Netherlands sign MoU on technical cooperation in Urban Planning and Management

Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Netherlands Minister for Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen signed a Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation in the field of "Spatial Planning, Water Management , and Mobility Management" at the Hague, Netherlands, today.

At the bilateral meeting, Kamal Nath spoke about the urbanization challenge being faced by India and the determination of the Government of India to address it in partnership with the technical and professional experts and business leaders of both countries. He reiterated that addressing the urbanization challenge provided a huge opportunity for cooperation including in the area of Private Public Partnership.

The Memorandum of Understanding will enable greater cooperation in the areas of - Spatial planning, urban and regional planning and development and architecture; Water management in terms of Water supply and sanitation and governance structures; Transport management and transport systems and infrastructure; Energy-efficient and sustainable built forms

Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group would be set up that would prepare annual work programmes. It was decided that the first seminar under the MoU would take place in June 2013 at Rotterdam to be followed by another seminar in India later in the year.

Kamal Nath yesterday met Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While noting that the bilateral trade between India and Netherlands has been increasing at a brisk pace, it was agreed that there is a need to expand the trade basket to other important areas such as Urban Development.

Minster Ploumen is likely to visit India with a trade delegation later in the year, which would also include representatives of the urban sector.