Release Date: February 28, 2008
 Office of Mayor Phil Hardberger: 207-7083

Mayor announces Chennai, India Sister City Agreement

On Wednesday, February 27, Mayor Phil Hardberger and Chennai, India�s Mayor M. Subramaniam signed a Sister City agreement between the two cities. During a teleconference held today, Mayor Hardberger discussed how San Antonio�s Sister City agreement with Chennai will lay the foundation for significant economic and cultural exchanges in such areas as commerce, health, education, and technology.

With a population of over 1 billion, India has one of the world�s fastest growing economies. Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu state, on the southeastern coast of India. The city of Chennai has a population of 4 million. The MSA has a population of 7.5 million people.

Chennai is widely considered the healthcare capital of India. The Apollo Hospital in Chennai is one of the largest facilities in Asia and specializes in cutting-edge medical procedures. It is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) USA.

Chennai Port serves as one of India�s largest ports and offers complete road and rail connectivity. It is also a major export hub for cars into Southeast Asia.

This agreement with Chennai makes San Antonio�s 8th sister city relationship.

Photo Credit: P. Cheenu, M.A.