The United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has asked the Kochi Corporation authorities to look into the possibilities of inducing local expertise for executing the four key proposals mooted as part of the ‘sister city project’ with Lorient city of France.
The Unesco will also help the civic body in identifying projects that will be implemented under the initiative.
“The Corporation has already submitted the list of proposals approved by the Corporation Council before the Unesco. The process is on for launching the proposals. However, before finalising, Kochi Corporation officials will have to visit Lorient and hold discussions. Then they will have to approve the proposals before entering into the execution level,” said a top Corporation official. Representatives of Lorient city had visited Kochi earlier this year and had reached on a consensus with the civic administration here to work together on four major focus areas as part of the sister city programme.
The major proposals include the extension of Fort Kochi-Mattanchery heritage conservation project to the entire Fort Kochi-Mattanchery historic district, preparing a detailed project report for a spice museum in Mattanchery and setting up of a cultural and historical museum in Bastion Bungalow at Fort Kochi.
Another project in which both the cities will join hands is for improvement in public transport with emphasis on water transport.
The memorandum of understanding between the two cities was signed during the ‘Emerging Kerela’ event held last year.