Spain proposes to develop Delhi as smart city

Spain on Monday proposed to cooperate with India in developing smart and sustainable cities in the country and presented a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard.

The draft MoU relating to urban development was presented during the meeting of a high level Spanish delegation led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Garcia Margallo y Marfil with the Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu in Parliament House.

Spain has proposed to assist in developing Delhi as the first global and smart city in India under the framework of this draft MoU.

It has come up with the draft MoU further to the visit of 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 India’s initiative of building smart cities, Naidu told the delegation that the draft MoU would be examined by the government 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, recycling of waste, water management and promoting renewable energy sources and was keen to associate with India in its efforts for infrastructure promotion.