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Premier David Makhura is leading the Gauteng delegation to participate in the World Association of Major Metropolises’ XII World Congress taking place on 19-22 June in Montreal, Canada.

Makhura was invited to attend the congress by the President of Metropolis, Denis Coderre, who is also the Mayor of the City of Montreal.

The Congress, which is taking place under the theme: “Global Challenges: “Major Cities in Action,” is expected to unite decision-makers from major cities around the world as well as public, institutional, private, community and academic stakeholders.

The congress will amongst other things showcase and acknowledge good urban practices from across the globe and enrich the debate among the various urban management stakeholders through innovative networking practices.

Metropolis is an international organisation that gathers cities and metropolitan regions with more than a million inhabitants. It operates as an international forum that explorers issues and concerns common to all big cities, metropolitan governments, regions, provinces and state governments.

Metropolis was established in 1985 and currently represents the authorities of 138 great cities and metropolitan areas in Africa, America, Caribbean, Asia, Pacific, and Europe.

Premier Makhura’s participation in the congress will enable a strong presence of Gauteng in a key international institution and will enable networking and the promotion of brand Gauteng for trade and investment.

During the congress, Premier Makhura will lead a discussion on the sustainable development in an urban context.  Other topics that will be discussed include governance models, partnerships in energy efficiencies, managing cities in metropolitan areas and managing water and waste.

The vision of the Metropolis is to build a network of initiatives among metropolitan governments and their collaborating partners that promote partnership projects for urban sustainability, which should be understood simultaneously in its environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects.

The Gauteng Provincial Government is a longstanding member of the Metropolis World Association.

Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government