Lord Mayor Dr. Mborong Venasius Bongkiyung signs a formal Sister City agreement with Yakutiye Municipality in Erzurum, Turkey, opening new pathways for agricultural and urban development cooperation.
Areas of Collaboration
The agreement, facilitated through the Agricities (International Agricultural Cities Union) framework, establishes a formal Sister City relationship between the two municipalities. The partnership is designed to foster mutual growth through the exchange of technical expertise, cultural ties, and economic collaboration.
Agricultural Transformation
Leveraging Turkish expertise in industrial processing and modern farming techniques to advance Kumbo's agri-processing capacity, while providing Yakutiye partners direct access to the Bui Division's biodiversity and emerging agribusiness market.
Urban Management
Sharing best practices in municipal governance, waste management, and digital infrastructure development between the two municipalities.
Investment Facilitation
Creating structured pathways for investors from the Erzurum region to identify and enter opportunities within the Kumbo municipality.
Knowledge and Cultural Exchange
Enabling staff exchanges, joint training programmes, and cross-cultural initiatives to deepen institutional ties over time.
Strategic Significance
Yakutiye is one of the central metropolitan districts of Erzurum, known for its historical significance, strong municipal administration, and proximity to major agricultural processing corridors. For Kumbo, this partnership expands its development network beyond traditional donor channels and into direct municipal peer collaboration. The Lord Mayor's participation in the Agricities Kongresi underscores Kumbo Council's ambition to position itself as a proactive player in the global network of agricultural cities. This Sister City agreement is the first in a series of international engagements by the Kumbo Council Executive as part of its 2026–2029 Development Strategy.
