Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay has been appointed to an important position on the international platform. Mayor Tugay has assumed the position of Vice President of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Culture Committee. Mayor Tugay will represent Izmir in this important management team, which includes representatives from nine cities from different geographies of the world.
Izmir's International Activity Will Increase
Stating that he believes that this new duty will increase İzmir’s effectiveness in the international arena, President Dr. Cemil Tugay emphasized that culture is a highly respected and influential area in the world. President Tugay, who said, “Having a say in the management of such a competent institution in this field is a step that will pave the way for İzmir,” stated that this duty will make İzmir’s cultural richness and work more visible on an international level.
UCLG Culture Committee: A Global Network
The UCLG Committee on Culture is an important platform that brings together cities, organizations and networks around the world that support the relationship between local cultural policies and sustainable development. The Committee carries out UCLG’s work focused on culture at both global and local levels. UCLG has more than 250 local governments and more than 175 local and regional government associations.
Strong Representation in Management
In addition to Izmir, the UCLG Committee on Culture is co-chaired by Buenos Aires from Argentina, Mexico City from Mexico, and Lisbon from Portugal. The vice-chairs are the local governments of Barcelona and Bilbao from Spain, Bogotà from Colombia, Brazzaville from Congo, and Jeju from South Korea. This strong representation reflects the committee’s aim to bring together different cultural perspectives on a global scale.
Izmir's Culture and Sustainable Development Vision
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has been working in close cooperation with the UCLG Culture Committee since 2015. Playing an active role within the global program that sees culture as an integral part of sustainable development, Izmir is among the Pioneer Cities of the UCLG Culture Committee. It also carries out important work within the framework of the Culture 2030 campaign that emphasizes the role of culture in urban policies. Mayor Tugay’s new position confirms once again Izmir’s determination in this field and the importance it attaches to international cooperation.
