WeGO Partners with Global Leaders at WUF 12 in Cairo to Drive Sustainable Urban Solutions
Cairo, Egypt – November 4, 2024 — The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) is actively participating in the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF 12), which runs from November 4 to 8, 2024 in Cairo, Egypt. The World Urban Forum, convened by UN-Habitat, serves as one of the largest and most influential gatherings dedicated to addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, economies, and the environment.
This year’s Forum brings together city leaders, experts, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss and share knowledge on sustainable urbanization and smart city development. With a focus on fostering collaboration and finding innovative solutions to urban challenges, WUF 12 provides an invaluable platform for cities and organizations to engage in open debates and exchange best practices.
For WeGO, the event is a significant opportunity to further its mission of creating inclusive, resilient, and smart cities globally. At WUF 12, the organization aims to re-engage members and partners, form new partnerships, and expand its global outreach, all while showcasing its flagship initiatives, including the Seoul Smart City Prize.
“We’re excited to be part of WUF 12, as it allows WeGO to connect with a diverse set of stakeholders, ranging from city officials to global corporations, who share our vision of advancing sustainable urban solutions,” said WeGO Secretary-General Mr. Jeong-kee Kim. “This event offers us the chance to not only promote the Seoul Smart City Prize but also strengthen relationships with existing members and establish new ones. The discussions and connections here will help accelerate our collective efforts to make cities more sustainable and livable.”
One of the highlights of WeGO’s participation was the presentation of the Seoul Smart City Prize, which gained international attention and attracted interest from cities eager to showcase their innovative smart city initiatives. The Prize, now in its second year, is designed to recognize cities that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the development and implementation of smart city solutions. Through this platform, WeGO raised awareness about the importance of smart technologies in urban transformation and encouraged more cities to participate in this prestigious award.
WeGO continued to advance its collaboration with UN-Habitat, the United Nations program responsible for promoting sustainable urbanization. At WUF 12, both organizations explored mutual interests in fostering sustainable urbanization and smart city solutions. The partnership aims to enhance the implementation of joint initiatives that address global urbanization challenges, such as climate change, urban resilience, and digital inclusivity. The continued collaboration is expected to amplify the impact of both organizations’ efforts in creating smarter and more sustainable urban environments. WeGO made valuable contributions to key panel discussions at WUF 12, highlighting its role in shaping the future of urban development through innovation. In the session titled “Dialogue 5: Putting People First in a Digital Era,” WeGO emphasized the importance of human-centered digital solutions in urban planning, underscoring the need for inclusivity and accessibility in digital transformation. The organization also participated in the panel “Localizing the Global Digital Compact: Global Alliance of Mayors for Digital Cooperation,” where WeGO highlighted its work in fostering global digital cooperation and empowering local governments in the digital age.
WeGO expanded its network in the Middle East and North Africa region during its participation in WUF 12, forging important connections with prominent cities and corporations in Egypt. Discussions with officials from 10th of Ramadan City, the Cairo Governorate, the Assistant Minister of Housing of Egypt, and corporate partners such as LG Egypt laid the foundation for future collaborations. Additionally, WeGO engaged with the Ambassador of Korea to Egypt, further strengthening diplomatic ties and exploring opportunities for joint initiatives.
WeGO’s presence at WUF 12 also facilitated valuable interactions with a wide array of city leaders and dignitaries. Notable figures such as the Mayor of Madrid, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, and the Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat engaged in discussions with WeGO, deepening existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities for cooperation.
WeGO also connected with high-profile officials from cities across the globe, including the Governor of Tokyo, the Governor of Fukuoka, the Mayor of Riyadh, the Mayor of Braga, the Mayor of Nanjing, the Mayor of Barcelona, the Mayor of Sant Boi de Llobregat, the CEO of the Saudi Quality of Life Program, and the Mayor of Granada. These networking opportunities are expected to lead to new collaborations, enhancing WeGO’s influence and impact in the global urban development community.
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