The international seminar of the Mediterranean Sustainable Cities and Regions Agency, hosted by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and held at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center, continues. In the seminar, which aimed to strengthen the cooperation between Mediterranean cities, it was emphasized that İzmir has the potential to lead other cities in circular economy and transportation studies.
The seminar organized by the Mediterranean Sustainable Cities and Regions Agency (AViTeM), which carries out urban and regional cooperation in the Mediterranean and includes institutions and organizations such as the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europe, the Municipality of Marseille and the Euroméditerranée Public Development Agency, continues, hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. . The international seminar at Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center (AASSM) will end on 25 November.
In the seminar, where the projects, works and international position of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality came to the fore, the outputs of the cooperation between Mediterranean cities and regional actors for the development of the social economy will be discussed, and the importance of experiences, joint projects, networks and working methods between regional actors will be discussed.
Meunier: “The Mediterranean is a whole.”
Ambassador Philippe Meunier, General Manager of AViTeM, said, “We carry out specialization training and formation studies through our experts. We create networks. We are working for the important issues and targets in front of the Mediterranean. The Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality frequently addresses these issues and shares them in the international community. The Mediterranean region has a very fragile structure in the face of global targets. At AViTeM, we think that the solutions should come from the regions, the cities themselves, and that the solutions should be compatible with the Mediterranean region. In fact, we try to cover a wide range of issues such as environment, climate, peace, health and urbanization in an inclusive way. We must take into account inequalities. We must be based on social justice. We must develop solutions that suit everyone. Our belief is that the Mediterranean is a whole. We are extremely happy to have organized such a seminar in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are holding this seminar together with our experts from different parts of the Mediterranean.”
Gauvin: “İzmir can set an example.”
Stating that Izmir will set an example for other cities in the Mediterranean, French Consul General in Istanbul Olivier Gauvin said, “I think that Izmir can make a very important contribution and that Izmir is an exemplary city due to its location in Turkey. Continuity of initiatives that affect each other can be ensured. İzmir has many potentials to lead in terms of circular economy and transportation studies. It should be said that İzmir is a city that carries out integrated studies on the one hand and carries out inclusive activities on the other. Due to its location, it has access to the sea and we see that areas such as agriculture, industry and crafts have advanced. İzmir also has historical potential. Although it is an extroverted city, it has an introverted structure within its own country. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality attaches great importance to social issues. We see that it has a goal of providing services to the least developed neighborhoods and regions. France is very happy to develop cooperation with Izmir,” he said.
D'Argoeuves: “The seminar has great potential.”
Xavier D'Argoeuves, Regional Communities Foreign Relations Representative of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europe, said that within the scope of AViTeM's work, İzmir can come to the fore by setting a model. D'Argoeuves said, “We see that İzmir is a city that has undergone many transformations within itself. İzmir has a great potential as a city that has been able to solve the problems faced by metropolitan cities, and that has been able to dissolve various factors within its own body. Can conduct exemplary studies in Mediterranean cities. As the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are very happy to cooperate with other cities. We wish our cooperation to continue. This cooperation can be realized through the French Development Agency (AFD), or it can be established on the condition that it starts at a lower level. We always support the cooperation between the cities of France and Turkey. The seminar has great potential. Turkish cities are of great importance in terms of developing cooperation between cities in the Mediterranean basin,” he said.
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