Exploring the ‘Citiverse’ through WeGO-ITU Session at WSIS+20 High Level Event  

 

Geneva, May 28th – Following the High-Level Dialogue ‘Smart Leaders’ Talk’, was the co-organized session with ITU: Citiverse- Envisioning, Inclusive, Sustainable, and People-centered Cities. This session was to further explore the “Citiverse” concept focusing  on how innovations in digital connectivity can create inclusive, sustainable, and participatory cities. While exploring the depths of the metaverse, the concept of the Citiverse has become established, linking virtual cities within an expansive digital universe.

The session commenced with an announcement by Kamelia Kemileva, Co-Director, Programmes and Administration of Global Cities Hub, towards a forward-thinking series of discussions. The opening of the session was delivered by Seizo Onoe, an elected official and director of ITU. The welcome remarks were delivered by Jung-Sook Park, Secretary General of WeGO, stating the essentials of a collective society while integrating the digital world with all citizens. The session also featured keynote speeches from distinguished leaders including Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer of London, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Mayor of Dhaka South, Bangladesh, and Manuel de Araujo, Mayor of Quelimane City, Mozambique.

The discussions were moderated by Kamelia Kemileva, Co-Director, Programmes and Administration of Global Cities Hub. The panel discussions brought together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders. Panelists included Cristina Bueti, Counsellor on Metaverse at ITU, Anna Matamala Ripoll, Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and joining remotely, Dr Sungjin Park, LG U+, Vice Chairman of Urban Design Institute of Korea.

ITU’s Citiverse session has successfully set a new direction for the future of smart cities, elaborating the need for technology that prioritizes human-centeredness and sustainability within the digital realm. By bringing together global leaders and experts, the event has laid the groundwork for a collaborative approach to building global future cities.

About WeGO

The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.

WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.

Press Contact:
Name:  Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169