Govt of India approves MOCs with Japan and Maldives for sustainable urban development

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 2, 2021, approved the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Sustainable Urban Development between the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan, in supersession of existing MoU of 2007 on Urban Development.

Another Memorandum of Cooperations (MoC) approved which was signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Government of Maldives on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development in February 2021. The MoU comes into effect on the date of signing by the two contracting parties i.e. 20th February 2021 and will remain in force for an indefinite period.

A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to strategize and implement programs on cooperation under the framework of the MoC. The Joint Working Group will meet once a year, alternately in Japan, Maldives and in India.

The cooperation under this MoC will commence on the date of its signature and continue for a period of 5 years. Thereafter, it may be renewed automatically for further successive periods of 5 years at a time.

The MoU will promote strong, deep and long-term bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development between the two countries. The MoU is expected to create employment in the areas of sustainable urban development including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Solid waste management, Affordable housing, Urban Green Mobility, Urban Mass Rapid Transport, Smart Cities Development and any other related area mutually agreed upon by contracting parties.

The proposed MoC will enable the exchange of key learnings and best practices in the above-mentioned areas.