Newsom's Whirlwind Trip To Bangalore

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will return to San Francisco Wednesday after a three-day trip to Bangalore.  His purposed to traveling half way around the world was to forge business, research and cultural ties with the "Silicon Valley of India."
     
Newsom was one member of a 55-person delegation of business and community leaders from San Francisco.
     
"A lot of this all revolves around creating new relationships to improve San Francisco's economy," Newsom spokesman Brian Purchia said.
   
 The primary goal of the trip was to "cement the sister-city relationship between San Francisco and Bangalore," an agreement signed between the cities last year, Purchia said.
   
 The two cities are considered leaders in biotechnology, medical and digital technology, as well as business, education and the arts.
   
 On Monday, Newsom met with the B.S. Yeddyurappa, the chief  minister of the state of Karnataka, of which Bangalore is the capital, and signed seven memorandums of understanding between the cities.
   
 The MOUs (memo of understanding) relate to arts and culture, trade and business, education and research, health care, the environment, theater and fashion, according to the mayor's office.
   
Newsom also signed an agreement with Cisco officials in Bangalore to develop a joint vision for a "Sustainable 21st Century San Francisco," according to the mayor's office. 
   
 The center, as well as other planned sustainable urban development projects at Candlestick Point and Treasure Island, are expected to create residential units for 60,000 people, and create as many as 30,000  construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs, the mayor's office said.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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