Karnataka Proposes Sister City Agreement Between Bengaluru and Lima

The Government of Karnataka has announced its eagerness to sign an official agreement to declare Bengaluru and Lima, the capital city of Peru, as sister cities.

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on June 28, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwar stated that the state government is keen on formalizing this relationship. The announcement was made during the 205th Independence Day celebrations of Peru, which were held in the city.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwar, signing the sister cities agreement is highly important to improve Bengaluru’s direct connectivity with Peru. He noted that the partnership will specifically target improvements and collaborations in three key sectors: trade, education, and health.

The proposed agreement is anticipated to have a major economic impact. Officials estimate that the sister-city initiative will help increase the total bilateral trade between India and Peru by $10 billion.

During his address, Parameshwar highlighted Karnataka's strong economic credentials, stating that the state contributes 40 percent of India’s overall information technology and bio-technology output. He emphasized that Karnataka continues to lead the country in these high-growth sectors. Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Minister pointed to the steady inflow of investments during the global investors meet as clear evidence of the state’s continued progress and development.

In addition to economic and trade ties, Parameshwar spoke about the shared historical values between the two regions. He observed that the historic liberation movements in Latin America and the freedom movement in India, which was led by Mahatma Gandhi, share a deep similarity.

The event in Bengaluru was attended by prominent diplomatic figures, including Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, Peru’s Ambassador to India, and Vikram Vishwanath, the Honorary Consul of Peru in Bengaluru, who both participated in the national day celebrations.