Bengaluru and Siem Reap will become sister cities, marking a new chapter in cultural, diplomatic and economic ties. As a symbol of this partnership, both cities are establishing monuments to represent and honour each other.
The provincial administration of Siem Reap and the state government of Karnataka, a province that hosts the Indian Information Technology powerhouse Bengaluru, is all set to sign a ‘sister city’ agreement in September 2025, according to reliable sources.
The development was shared with Khmer Times yesterday by Yashi Dhariwal, Head of Political and Economic Department at the Honorary Consulate to the Kingdom of Cambodia in India, subsequent to her meeting with Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) on Thursday.
“Both the state government of Karnataka and the provincial administration of Siem Reap have given the green light for the agreement, and this will be a pivotal moment in the diplomatic and economic trajectory of the two nations.
“We are expecting His Excellency Sun Chanthol to visit Bengaluru soon at the invitation of the Karnataka Government.”
Yashi emphasised that the ‘sister city’ agreement will encompass major industrial sectors such as Information Technology (IT), electronics, green energy, education, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and space, among others.
“Discussions are on to establish a replica of Angkor Wat in Bengaluru, which is expected to serve as an impetus for boosting the tourism ties between the two nations.
“We are also talking with Air Cambodia to start direct flights between Bengaluru and Siem Reap.”
The diplomat said the economic ties between India and Cambodia are set to scale new highs. “I accompanied the business delegation from India at the Cambodia-Asean Business Summit 2025, where His Excellency Sun Chanthol highlighted the minimum time taken by the CDC to approve investment projects.
“The new investment law coupled with the tax incentives make Cambodia’s investment landscape and business ecosystem one of the best and I must say that ‘Fortune 500 Companies’ of India including the Adani Group, Reliance, Tata Group and GMR Group are now interested in exploring investment and business opportunities in the Kingdom.”
The Honorary Consulate of Cambodia in Bengaluru has facilitated eight delegations from India, thus committing to enhancing bilateral relations, she added.
In a statement issued on Friday, the CDC said the meeting between Sun Chanthol and Yashi Dhariwal focused on many areas of economic cooperation.
“The meeting also explored possible opportunities for cooperation between the Indian city of Bengaluru and the Kingdom,” the CDC statement added.
Bengaluru, popularly known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, hosts a thriving IT sector alongside other high-tech industries.
The largest hub and exporter of IT services in India, the city’s metropolitan area has a combined GDP of $359.9 billion as of 2023. The fourth most populated city in India (14 million in 2024), it is also home to many heavy and light manufacturing industries.
