San Francisco - Bangalore Sister City Initiative

To engage Individuals and Institutions in Bangalore and San Francisco in creating sustainable 21st century cities through an exchange of environmental, economic, cultural and research ideas, expertise and resource.

Arts & Performances

Focus on involvement and exposure for the citizens of each city to their respective rich arts and culture.

Business & Trade Facilitation

Facilitate trade through strong business network and partnerships with city and state governments.

Cross Border Entrepreneurship (XbE)

Guide entrepreneurs initially in Bangalore and Silicon Valley to take the first steps in developing products with global appeal.

Education Exchange

Establish platform for exchanging ideas and methodologies to enhance education in both cities

Healthcare Enhancement

Establish platform for exchanging ideas and methodologies to enhance healthcare provision in both cities

Infrastructure

Create efficient and effective strategies to enhance processes in government and develop strong infrastructure.
SF Bangalore - Logo

Vision

Engaging Individuals and Institutions in Bangalore and San Francisco in creating sustainable 21st century cities through an exchange of environmental, economic, cultural and research ideas, expertise and resource.

Focus

The following subcommittees have been established to facilitate achievement of our goals:

Arts & Performances

Engage citizens of each city through exposure to their respective rich arts and cultures.

Cross Border Entrepreneurship (XbE)

Help entrepreneurs (initially in Bangalore and Silicon
Valley) take the first steps in developing products
with global appeal.

Infrastructure & Better Government

Create efficient and effective strategies to enhance
processes in government and develop strong
infrastructure.

Women’s & Children’s Issues

Focus on women’s and children’s issues and develop
initiatives to improve their lives.

Business & Trade Facilitation

Create a solid network of businesses between the two cities and facilitate trade through said network and partnerships with city and state governments.

Education & Healthcare

Establish platform for exchanging ideas and
methodologies to enhance education and healthcare
provision in both cities.

Leadership 2020

Develop awareness and activities that will establish a
cornerstone of growth and sustainability in the Sister
City program for future generations.

Team
San Francisco        Bangalore
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
Honorary Chair
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Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom
Honorary Chair
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Mayor Ed Lee
Honorary Chair
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James P. Herlihy
Co-Chair and Director
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Madhav Misra
Co-Chair and Director
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Kumar Malavalli
Development Chair and Director
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Uday Bellary
Treasurer
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Vijay C. Advani
Board of Directors
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Vijay Bist
Board of Directors
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Mark Chandler
Board of Directors
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Sada Chidambaram
Board of Directors 2020 Committee Chair
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Robert Friese
Board of Directors
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Sergio Garcia
Board of Directors
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Matthew Goudeau
Board of Directors
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Deepa Harris
Board of Directors
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Scott Heldfond
Board of Directors
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Tamar Hurwitz
Board of Directors
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Regis Kelly
Board of Directors
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William (Bill) Lee
Board of Directors
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Vish Mishra
Board of Directors
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Meera Prashad
Board of Directors
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Sean Randolph
Board of Directors
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Judith Wilbur
Board of Directors
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Meena Chidhambaram
2020 Committee
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Tara Misra
2020 Committee
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Rahul Pathak
2020 Committee
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Tory Polich
2020 Committee
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Raghu Shivaram
2020 Committee
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Sarin Suvarna
2020 Committee
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News & Events
2013
Executive Mayoral Delegation to Bangalore November 29 – December 5, 2013 - Jun 2013
  • The executive mayoral trade mission will offer participants an unparalleled introduction to the economy and business climate of Bangalore, the locomotive of India’s new economy and the epicenter of innovation and entrepreneurship on the subcontinent.
  • Delegates will meet with top business leaders and major investors, as well as senior government officials responsible for technology, life sciences and infrastructure.
  • Participants will enjoy 5 star accommodations.
  • Participation is by invitation only.
read more >>
Happy Ugadi – Hindu New Year - Apr 2013
The word Yugadi can be explained as; ‘Yuga‘ is the word for ‘epoch’ or ‘era’, and ‘ādi’ stands for ‘the beginning. The days marks Hindu New Year according to Luni-Solar calendar. While the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka use the term Ugadi/Yugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa (Marathi: गुढी पाडवा). Marwari, [...] read more >>
2012
THIS IS TRULY INDIA - Madhav Mishra, Co-Chair, Dec 2012
When Pranab Mukherjee was sworn in as the President of India, the world witnessed a Parsi Chief Justice Kapadia swear in a Brahmin President Mukherjee, with a Muslim Vice President Hamid Ansari, Sikh Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an Italian born Catholic Chairman of the ruling party Sonia Gandhi, and a Dalit Speaker of the Parliament [...] read more >>
Happy Indian Independence Day ! - Aug 2012
From the wiki entry: The Independence Day of India, celebrated on 15 August, is a holiday commemorating India’s independence from the British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation on 15 August 1947. Read more about it here: Independence Day (India) read more >>
Bringing Indian Startups on the Global Platform – Look out for ourXBE stall at TiEcon - May 2012
Innovation Lead Entrepreneurship is the way to bring Indian Starups on the Global Platform. A Globally Networked Team Driving this initiatives is the key to the success. Cross Border Entrepreneurship (XBE) Initiative between The Bay Area the Silicon Valley and Bangalore the Silicon Valley of India with the following objectives, driving the Initiative; 1.Help innovative, [...] read more >>
Academy of Art University – School of Fashion’s Annual Graduation Fashion Show - May 2012
An MOU was signed between the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Bangalore and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2009. Since then, there has been an ongoing exchange of students and ideas and as well as ongoing dialogues. The program has been a great success. The graduating students from the Academy [...] read more >>
2011
Asian Art Museum hosts Maharaja Gala - Oct 2011
It’s a watershed moment in local Indian culture. The Asian Art Museum’s opening-night party for “Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Court” on Oct. 19 was the largest in its history, with 650 guests paying up to $2,500 per ticket for dinner and a preview of the exhibition. Although Silicon Valley is a font of [...] read more >>
San Francisco welcomes delegation from Karnataka led by the Honorable Minister for Industries, Mr. Murugesh Nirani - Sep 2011
A high level delegation from Karnataka is visiting the Bay Area from September 24th to 26th to promote investment and further the implementation of the Sister City MOUs signed during Mayor Newsom’s trip to Bangalore in November, 2009. The Delegation includes Murugesh R. Nirani, Honorable Minister for Large and Medium Industries, Dr. K.V. Raju, Economic [...] read more >>
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech on Independence Day - Aug 2011
The following is the text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort here Monday: “My dear countrymen, I heartily greet 120 crore Indians on the 64th anniversary of our independence. I have been addressing you from the historic Red Fort for the last seven years. In these [...] read more >>
Dr. Shivaram Malavalli congratulates Karnataka’s new Chief Minister on behalf of the San Francisco-Bangalore Sister Cities Initiative. - Aug 2011
chief_minister read more >>
Visitors to SFAA from NIFT - Jun 2011
On July 13, 2011 Academy of Art University, School of Fashion in San Francisco welcomed representatives from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) India. The day included classroom visits, demonstrations in the knitwear, textile, and Tambour beading labs, as well as further discussion regarding curriculum and educational objectives. This coming fall semester, the institutes [...] read more >>
Cross Border Entrepreneurship Initiative - May 2011
The new NGO, Cross Border Entrepreneurship Initiative, based in Bangalore, India, has launched its online presence and newsletter. For more information, please go to the NGO Facebook page read more >>
Divecha Centre for Climate Change Established by San Francisco Bangalore Sister Cities Board Member, Arjun Divecha - Mar 2011
The Divecha Centre for Climate Change was established at Indian Institute of Science in January 2009 with a generous financial contribution from Arjun (a San Francisco Bangalore Sister Cities Board Member) and Diana Divecha and the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. The primary goal of this center will be to understand climate [...] read more >>
Happy Republic Day! - Jan 2011
Check out more photos… read more >>
January 26, 2011 Proclaimed India Day by San Francisco Mayor, Edwin Lee - Jan 2011
Mayor Edwin Lee, interim mayor for Gavin Newsom who was elected as California’s lieutenant governor last November, has signed the proclomation proclaiming January 26th to be India Heritage Day in San Francisco, in honor and observance of India’s national day. Read more about India’s Republic Day (wikipedia) Gavin Newsom Sworn In As Lieutenant Governor Of [...] read more >>
Global Green Cities Symposium - Jan 2011
On February 23rd and 24th, 2011, San Francisco Bangalore Sister Cities will be participating in the Global Green Cities Symposium at The JW Marriott Hotel, located at 500 Post Street in San Francisco, CA (map). Influential participants and exhibitors will be attending from all over the world to participate in this timely and powerful conference. [...] read more >>
Fashion Show at the SF Academy of Art - Jan 2011
The MOU between the School of Fashion, Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Bangalore, which was signed under the auspices of the San Francisco-Bangalore Sister City Initiative, has produced vibrant student exchanges between the two institutions. We are pleased to announce that beginning in [...] read more >>
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom elected California lieutenant governor - Jan 2011
Mayor Gavin Newsom, who initiated and inked the San Francisco-Bangalore Sister City Initiative October 2008, is elected Lieutenant Governor of California! Mayor Newsom led a high-powered delegation to Bangalore in 2009 and the two cities signed over a dozen MOUs, several of which are now translating to concrete results. We wish Mayor and Lt. Gov. [...] read more >>
2010
Shubh Diwali! - Sep 2010
On Diwali and in the coming year may you be blessed with success, prosperity and happiness! Happy Diwali! read more >>
The San Francisco-Bangalore Initiative second anniversary celebration - Aug 2010
The San Francisco-Bangalore Initiative celebrated its second anniversary at the Asian Art Museum on November 1, 2010. The event feted the fruition of several MOUs signed during Mayor Gavin Newsom’s visit to Bangalore, including student exchanges between the SF Academy of Art and NIFT (National Institute of fashion Technology) and the send-off of the delegation [...] read more >>
Hundreds of thousands pack Giants parade route - May 2010
It was a deliriously fun combination of Mardi Gras, New Year’s Eve and world championship – with the crowd of the century on hand to celebrate. Hundreds of thousands of people jammed downtown San Francisco on Wednesday for the Giants’ World Series victory parade, one of the largest gatherings the city has seen in years. [...] read more >>
New Student Exchange Program for the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Bangalore - Mar 2010
In response to the San Francisco – Bangalore Sister City Initiative, the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Bangalore, India established an international student exchange program that is commencing this fall. The educational institutions have agreed to the international student exchange [...] read more >>
Silicon Valley Expats Spur Innovation in India - Feb 2010
Throughout history, diasporas have reflected economic or political disruptions, ultimately enriching the receiving countries. Silicon Valley’s dynamic churn is the latest example, as many Chinese and Indian migrants are returning home, ready to lay a new foundation for innovation and growth. Check out the full story… read more >>
Supporters

Special thanks to our supporters for their continued commitment to the San Francisco Bangalore Sister City Initiative.

Community Involvement

We proudly support the following international non-profit initiatives:

Contact

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