I.Metshin initiates establishment of cities' activity international rating

(Kazan, KZN.RU, February 13). Secretariats, committees and senior management of the world organization "United Cities and Local Governments" are currently meeting in Barcelona. The event is attended by Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, who is a UCLG co-president; Mayor of Istanbul, UCLG President, Kadir Topbaş; UCLG Secretary General Joseph Roig; Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias; Mayor of Rabat, Fathallah Ualalu, president of the Association of Local Authorities of Botswana, Mpho Moruakgomo; president of the National Confederation of Municipalities of Brazil, Paulo Tsiolkoski, and representatives of municipalities of other cities.

During the meeting, Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, made a presentation of the 2015 work plan of the UCLG Eurasian section, suggesting establishment of an international cities' activity rating. "Today, cities compete in investment, tourist flows, human resources and so on. The competition is not so much with neighbors as with cities in other countries and on other continents. In these circumstances, it is necessary to find out which cities have succeeded in this or that respect, whose experience could be used for people's benefit. Mayors always want to know how their cities look in comparison with others and are interested in showing their achievements that could be shared with the rest of the world," the Mayor emphasized the benefits of such a rating.

The rating will be drafted by the secretariat of the UCLG Eurasian section together with a group of experts which will include scientists and experts in the field of international cooperation. Experts' and the Secretariat's recommendations will be approved by the Expert Council of the UCLG Eurasian section.

It is expected that the results of the first rating, which will include the cities of the UCLG Eurasian section, will be announced at the Congress of Local Authorities of Eurasia in July 2015. The congress will be held in Kazan during the 2015 FINA World Championships.

Ilsur Metshin also expressed a desire to host the June 2016 Executive Bureau meeting in Kazan. It is worth noting that in the history of the World Organization,  no statutory UCLG event has been conducted either in Russia, or in any other Eurasian country. "This is a good chance for all members of the Executive Bureau to become familiar with Russia and Kazan. The very geographical position of Russia and of the Republic of Tatarstan, in particular, assumes their role as a platform to bring together Western and Eastern civilizations; we strive to strengthen our relations with all countries of the Eurasian region, to actively promote free trade and economic and investment cooperation. In addition, Kazan has a vast experience of hosting world events at the highest level," said the head of the city administration.

Ilsur Metshin expressed the hope that his initiative will be supported at the next meeting of the Executive Bureau in the city of Porto Alegre.