French city deputy mayor Ranjit Singh promotes twin-city ties between Bobigny and Punjab's Kapurthala

AMRITSAR: The Punjabi-origin Deputy Mayor of Bobigny , France, Ranjit Singh has unveiled a plan to establish a twin-city partnership between Bobigny and Kapurthala in Jalandhar district of Punjab with an aims to capitalize on the shared architectural heritage of buildings designed by the same architect to promote trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two cities.

Stating that both cities share a common architectural heritage of buildings designed by the same French architect, he said the building of Avicenne Hospital , Bobigny, and Sainik School Kapurthala and mosque of Kapurthala, called a Moorish Mosque, were designed by French architect Maurice Mantout, which makes a bond between the two cities.

"This common architectural legacy creates a unique bond between our cities, making space for opportunities for cultural exchange, tourism, and trade," he said, adding that the initiative aims to strengthen ties between the two regions by celebrating their shared history and promoting mutual growth.

Ranjit Singh’s parents, Chain Singh from Sheikha village and Surinder Kaur from Mannchopra village in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, migrated to Europe in the early 1970’s and settled in France, establishing a livelihood by opening restaurants and shops.

Bobigny is home to over fifty thousand residents, including approximately five thousand Punjabis, 90 percent of whom are Sikhs, he said

Ranjit, who represents the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), a French left-wing party, said that as the Deputy Mayor of Bobigny, he has already initiated the process of establishing a sister-city relationship between Bobigny and Kapurthala and is also considering leading a delegation to India to begin a formal dialogue with the Punjab government.

“This initiative is also aimed at raising awareness about the lesser-known shared history between Punjab and France,” he added.

He expressed hope that both cities could benefit from potential trade partnerships. Bobigny is home to the manufacturing of high-quality leather products, which may appeal to business communities in Punjab. Likewise, products from Kapurthala or other parts of Punjab could find a market in Bobigny and across France, added he.