I. Metshin awarded the leaders of the international urban activity rating in Hangzhou

(KZN.RU, December 8). Today the results of the study of the international activity of the Eurasian branch cities were summed up at the meeting of the UCLG World Council in Hangzhou. Khabarovsk became the leader in the overall rating. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, the president of the UCLG Eurasian Branch, presented awards.

The study of international activity was conducted for the second time and only among the cities of the UCLG Eurasian Branch. It is planned that the cities belonging to other branches of the organization will join the rating in 2018. The study estimates the following: a business activity of cities, an international activity of the population, international organizations and institutions, international events, infrastructure, and socio-political data of the city. The study includes not only the ranking of cities but also an analysis of their position in comparison with others.

In total, more than 80 applications were received for participation in the study, 54 cities were admitted to the rating. Perm, Stavropol, Kazan, Osh (Kirghizia), Chelyabinsk, Volgograd, Ulan-Ude, Krasnoyarsk, and Novosibirsk, are among the top ten in the ratings along with Khabarovsk.

Perm was on the first place in the small rating among the cities with population over 1 million people, Khabarovsk – among the largest cities (500 thousand-1 million people), Stavropol – among large (250-500 thousand people), Almetyevsk – among large (100-250 thousand people), Magadan – among medium (50-100 thousand people), and Magas – among small (up to 50 thousand people).

The compilers of the rating noted that Khabarovsk became the leader due to the fact that it is not only a member of international organizations but also a high- level participant of the events, takes the leading positions, wins contests and receives world-class awards. In addition, the city is open to the community through the language and the student exchange.

Ilsur Metshin came up with the initiative to create a rating of the international activity of the cities of the world in 2015 at a meeting of the secretariats, committees and the top leadership of the World Organization “United Cities and Local Governments“. “Today, cities are involved in the competition for investments, tourist flows, labor resources, and so on. The competition is not with neighbors but with the profile cities in other countries and on other continents. In these circumstances, it becomes necessary to find out, which of the cities have mostly succeeded in all issues, whose experience could be used for the benefit of our residents”, the Mayor of Kazan marked the advisability of making a rating.

The study was conducted in pilot mode two years ago. In the current study, the methodology has been completely revised. Such major world capitals as Moscow and St. Petersburg do not participate in the rating since they are the absolute leaders anyway. Methods of calculating the city's place in the general rating also remained.

Emilia Saiz, the new secretary general of the World Organization “United Cities and Local Governments”, expressed interest in the rating. Her candidacy was approved at a meeting of the UCLG World Council. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, congratulated the new head of the organization and wished her every success in the development of the organization.