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A
TALE OF TWO CITIES
Bremen and Pune. How on earth did
these two cities strike a friendship?
Is it because, as in their case, likes
attract? After all,  both
cities have an impressive history
and rich culture, and are great places
to stay and visit. Interestingly,
both cities happen to be preferred
locations for the setting up of manufacturing
and automotive industries in their
respective countries. Surely these
similarities couldn't be the only
the driving force to forge an alliance.
Here's an amazing tale of co-operation
between two cities - Bremen of Germany
and our very own Pune. The two cities,
both reputed for being steeped in
tradition and culture, enjoy a partnership
that is an absolute dream. This unique
partnership began as a project "from
scratch." In 1976, the Bremen working
group of the international child aid
organisation  "Terre
des hommes" had begun to provide aid
to handicapped children in the city
of Pune. Soon the group, along with
the Bremen Overseas Research and Development
Organisation (BORDA), started supporting
self-support projects, introduced
biogas technologies in the villages
of the region and provided aid for
the improvement of living conditions
of slum dwellers.
It was not long before the people
in Bremen and Pune became curious
about each other, and got interested
in the life and achievements of their
two cities.
The City of Bremen started to support
projects initiated in Pune and worked
towards keeping it alive. Coincidentally,
around this time, the Department of
Development Cooperation of the Bremen
administration was founded.
The continuous counselling provided
a constructive framework for a closely
connected network of economic, cultural
and scientific initiatives. Since
1983, the universities of both cities
have been cooperating in the fields
of environmental science and development.
Two years later, the Chambers of Commerce
signed a cooperation agreement. Since
then, many trade fairs and projects
have been arranged, with access to
the European market being made considerably
easier for the Indian partners.
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One interesting project has been
the setting up of the Institute
of International Business and Research,
in 1984 in Pune, at the  initiative
of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce
in association with the Mahratta Chamber
of Commerce. The institute offers
a two years Masters programme in International
Business and is affliated to the Leeds
Metropolitan University, U K and the
Bremen University, Germany.
The institution aims at imparting
education and advanced training to
students which seems very relevant
in the country's current economic
scenario and thrust towards globalisation.
The institute's grandiose plans have
a sound basis, given the long-time
relationship between Bremen and Pune.
The Chambers of Commerce in the two
cities support the necessary exchange
of students and there is also a
search for apprenticeships in Germany
for Indian students. The Technical
College of Bremen is bringing its
15 years of experience in international
economics and management studies to
assist in this cooperative project,
and is responsible for the international
orientation of the courses and applied
research programmes.
 The
phenomenal success of the projects
undertaken between the
cities makes it amply clear that an
important basis for all endeavours
is personal contact. Friendship societies
have been founded in both cities since
1980.
Apart from working on the various
projects, these societies strive to
bring together the different cultures
and overcome mutual prejudices. Seminars
and conferences provide a meeting
point for other NGOs and communities.
Societies such as the "Association
of Friends of Germany" and the
"Forum for City Solidarity Bremen-Pune"
are symbols of lively democracy embedded
in both cities.
Danke and Jai Hind!
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