Talks about twinning of cities

This week a delegation of the Mossel Bay Municipality, led by the Western Cape finance MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer and executive mayor Alderman Harry Levendal, signed a letter of intent to work towards a memorandum of understanding between Mossel Bay Municipality and the City of Denpasar.

Ultimately the goal is to twin the two cities to strengthen development, capacity building and tourism between Mossel Bay Municipality and Denpasar in Bali, Indonesia, Alderman Levendal said.

The mayor described the meeting as a historical milestone for both Denpasar and Mossel Bay. Building on close relations that stem from the Indonesian participation in the popular Dias Festival, the close cooperation between the Indonesian diplomatic corps in South Africa and the Mossel Bay local government, the aspirations to formalise the good relations developed into discussions to explore the possible twinning of Mossel Bay with Denpasar.

Mayor Levendal highlighted the similarities between Mossel Bay and Denpasar.

He said much of the cooperation will centre on promoting cultural exchange and improved tourism, the development of the creative economy and building capacity and the development of human resources.

It is expected that the memorandum of understanding that will follow on the letter of intent, the cooperation framework agreement, will be signed in Mossel Bay in due time.

Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal (third from left) this week had talks with the mayor of the Indonesian city of Denpasar, Rai Mantra (fourth from left) about a twinning arrangement between their two cities.

The executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal and municipal manager, Advocate Thys Giliomee in Indonesia.