Some 119 international mayors and elected officials from around 250 cities in 43 countries have convened to exchange experiences concerning globalization of the world sustainable cities at the Global City Forum 2009 held at Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi on April 7-8. The forum centered around some key topics including globalization of the world's sustainable cities, culture and immigration as drivers for a successful city, developing sustainable downtown areas, the urban leadership challenges, citizens' partnership and new ecological neighborhoods and redesigning public realm through public transport strategies. The two-day event was inaugurated by Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, senior advisor to Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development and was organized by Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) and Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (ADUPC). Al Hameli noted that Global City is the only international networking forum where city leaders, mayors, political leaders, and city executives can share strategies , methods and concrete solutions to help them implement their vision of a sustainable city and metropolitan region. “This unique network platform is being held for the first time in the Middle East to share experiences and expertise from Asian, European, African, Middle Eastern and American emblematic cities” he added. Rashed Mubarak Al Hajeri, chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs, said: “Abu Dhabi has the vision and the substance to become a global city. In addition to being one of the leading financial centers in the region, a major industrial zone and enriched by a diverse cosmopolitan population. These qualities are co-joined with a solid infrastructure and regulations system, functional urban planning and sustainable economic development, making Abu Dhabi the next big global city.” “The municipal sector has been playing a major role in the advancement and transformation of the city's landscape and the way it manages and serves the UAE nationals, residents and visitors. As the new municipal entity that creates and forms new policy and regulatory laws, the Department of Municipal Affairs has experienced unprecedented accomplishments initiated through the municipal sector with the aim of bringing about positive change in the capital,” he added. Ahmad Mohammad Al Shareef, undersecretary of Department of Municipal Affairs, said the conference provides the opportunity to hear first hand from international experts strategies on urban management and transportation that will promote lively debate in the assorted workshops. __
