Spain offers to help develop Delhi as smart, global city
27 Apr 2015
The Spanish government today submitted a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in developing smart and sustainable cities in India. Spain also proposed to assist in developing Delhi as the first global and smart city in India under the framework of the draft MoU.
The draft MoU relating to urban development was presented during the meeting of a high level Spanish delegation led by minister of foreign affairs and cooperation Jose Garcia-Margalloy Marfil with India's minister of urban development M Venkaiah Naidu in Parliament House today.
Spain has come up with the draft MoU following the visit of Venkaiah Naidu to Barcelona to attend the Smart City Expo World Congress in November last year and the meeting of Spain's secretary of state for trade Jamie Garcia Legaz in February this year with Naidu.
Welcoming Spain's interest in the Indian government's initiative of building smart cities, Naidu told the delegation that the government would examine the draft MoU for further action in consultation with all concerned agencies.
The Spanish minister said that his country is among the world leaders in building railway and metro networks, roads and ports besides in shipping, waste recycling, water management and promoting renewable energy sources and was keen to associate with India in its efforts for infrastructure promotion.
The visiting minister referred to the extensive work done by Spanish companies in Latin American countries in this regard.
Venkaiah Naidu gave a detailed account of the measures being taken by the central government to promote investments into the country by enhancing the ease of doing business, developing infrastructure, liberalising FDI norms etc.
The visit of the Spanish foreign minister to India after 42 years as also the visit of other Spanish leaders including the ministers of defence, trade and prime minister's special envoy highlight Spain's interest in the development initiatives of the Indian government, an official release pointed out.