WeGO Expands Presence with the Inauguration of MENA Regional Office
Abu-Dhabi, May 9th – The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) is thrilled to announce the official opening of its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office. The inauguration ceremony took place on May 8th, 2024, at the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) Headquarters Building in Abu Dhabi. This momentous event marked a significant milestone for WeGO as it expanded its footprint into the MENA region, strengthening its commitment to fostering smart and sustainable urban development worldwide.
Distinguished guests and high-level officials included H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities & Transport, UAE, and Mayor of Seoul, Oh Se-hoon. The President of WeGO graced the occasion. In addition, esteemed attendees such as the Mayor of Makati and the Mayor of Ramallah, the Executive Director of Kampala, the Deputy Mayor of Abuja (representing WeGO’s African Regional Office), the Deputy Mayor of Accra were present to mark the opening ceremony. The MENA Regional Office endeavored to enhance its network by involving both current and prospective local government members, establishing platforms for sharing knowledge and best practices tailored to the unique needs and approaches of the MENA region.
“While our regional offices collaborate with WeGO headquarters in their respective regions to carry out and expand the mission and values of WeGO, we see great potential in the role the MENA Regional Office will play in the region. The MENA Regional Office will spread WeGO initiatives in the region such as WeGO Smart Sustainable Champions program, which is a youth program equipping youth recruited from universities in cities around the world with skills and knowledge needed for understanding smart city development in this 4th revolution era” – said WeGO Secretary General Ms. Jung Sook Park during her opening remarks.
WeGO President city, led by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, followed by the Inaugural Remarks congratulating Abu-Dhabi and extending congratulations to Abu Dhabi on its new role. He expressed hope for enhancing global collaboration among organizations and cities, aiming for a smarter and more sustainable future for all citizens. Mayor Oh-Se-hoon then presented the Abu Dhabi Regional Office plaque to H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities & Transport, UAE.
“Hosting the WeGO MENA Regional Office and the signing of the Friendship City Agreement are significant achievements for the DMT and emirate at large. They reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading hub for smart sustainable urban development in the MENA region, showcasing our commitment to innovation and excellence in urban planning and transportation infrastructure. These collaborations further underscore our dedication to fostering international partnerships and driving forward the global agenda for sustainable urbanisation,” H.E. Al Shorafa said.
Mayor Oh’s attendance at the opening ceremony of the World Smart City Organization (WeGO) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office further underscores Seoul City’s commitment to global collaboration in sustainable urban development. By sharing Seoul’s human-centric smart city governance and inviting participation in the upcoming “Seoul Smart Life Week,” Mayor Oh aims to foster inclusive smart city policies even in the Middle East region.
“Today, as we celebrate the official opening of WeGO’s MENA Regional Office and the signing of the Friendship City Agreement, we stand at the threshold of a new era in urban development. These milestones between Abu Dhabi and Seoul symbolise not just an alliance, but a shared vision of progress and prosperity. In this journey towards a brighter tomorrow, let the exchange of ideas and our partnership become the catalyst for transformative change, inspiring cities around the world,” H.E. Mayor Oh Se-hoon said.
Lastly, Kampala, Executive Director, Ms. Dorothy Kisaka, as a WeGO member representative offered congratulatory remarks to the Abu Dhabi Regional Office.
The MENA Regional Office will serve as a hub for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering cities in the region to harness the benefits of smart technologies for sustainable urban development.
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