Ilsur Metshin made proposals for the development of the UCLG world organization

(Kazan City KZN.RU, May 27, Zilya Gayfi). Mayor of Kazan, President of the Eurasian department and co-president of the World Organization "United Cities and Local Governments" Ilsur Metshin spoke today at a business meeting in the exhibition center "Kazan Fair" with the proposals for the development of the UCLG. At the meeting of the Executive Bureau President of UCLG Istanbul, Mayor Kadir Topbash, Co-President of UCLG, Mayor of Victoria Jacqueline Moustache-Belle and others take part.

Ilsur Metshin noted significant development of UCLG in recent years. According to the head of Kazan, the first President of UCLG, Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe led the organization to the next level by expanding its partnerships and bringing together two global organizations with different cultures, practices and policies. Thanks to the Mayor of Istanbul, the current president of UCLG Kadir Topbash credibility of UCLG increased, it received recognition and strengthened its position in the United Nations, created the separation regions.

Addressing the gathering - the mayors of the cities of Europe, America, Asia and Africa, the co-presidents and the presidents of branches - Ilsur Metshin noted that the Executive Bureau, which is taking place these days in Kazan, is one of the most important event of the UCLG. "We will make decisions that will affect our work over the next three years and beyond, as we are going to choose a new presidium of Bogota, and perhaps a new way of working for the dissemination of our ideas about the important role of local and regional authorities. We have to concentrate on how we can grow from the world organization for local and regional authorities in the global movement of local and regional government", - the Mayor of Kazan said.

Ilsur Metshin thanked colleagues from around the world for their participation in the debate on the future of the world organization. "Equality of regional offices should be of paramount importance in order to have a truly international perspective", - the Mayor said and cited the example of the cooperation of Kazan and Bogota. The capital of Tatarstan became the first city in Russia, which has introduced dedicated lanes for public transport following the example of Bogota. This experience is repeated by Moscow and other cities.

I. Metshin also made specific proposals to improve the work of UCLG. In particular, the Mayor of Kazan proposed the Eurasian section of UCLG to create an Internet portal with advanced software, convenient services and the ability to store information on all relevant issues. Ilsur Metshin also considers necessary to introduce effective products and programs, through which mutual learning will be possible.

For example, according to I. Metshin, the format of project sites with the participation of world-class experts, which opened yesterday in Kazan, is useful for UCLG. Communication with intellectuals such as Richard Florida, Vukan Vuchic motivates to work more efficiently, suggests that every city has its untapped potential, I. Metshin said. Mayor of Kazan thanked the heads of cities, who agreed to speak to the citizens and to talk about their experience, vision of the future in the framework of the forum «Made in Kazan».