The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has signed on memorandum of understanding (MoU) for establishing sister-city relations with two more cities. It signed the MoU for that purpose on Tuesday with Pakhribas Municipality of Province No 1 and Amargadhi Municipality of Sudurpaschim province. KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya, and Bishweshwor Prasad Ojha on behalf Amargadhi municipality and Brisha Bahadur Rai on behalf Pakhribas municipality, put their signatures on the MoU to this effect.

KMC has established the sister-city relationship with Chandannath municipality of Karnali province, Melamchi municipality of Bagmati province and Ramgram municipality of Lumbini province before this in line with its policy of extending sister-city ties with seven local units of the seven provinces. Mayor Shakya said the special relations have been established with two more cities with the objective of further strengthening the institutional system and promoting the mutual interests and partnerships, and building mutual coordination, joint efforts and collaboration in the campaign of promotion of local autonomous rule, self-governance and building prosperous cities by establishing good practices and through exchange of experience.

With the establishment of the sister-city relations, KMC will provide Rs 15 million to Pakhribas municipality under the Inter-City Partnership Programme for the development of the religious and touristic areas at Suntale Danda in that municipality. A heritage park will also be constructed at that location. Similarly, KMC has supported Rs 15 million to Amargadhi municipality for construction of the Amargadhi park at Ward Nos 2 and 5 of that municipality. KMC has likewise established sister-city relations with 16 cities of five countries including China, Japan, America and Britain.