The Establishment of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities

On June 21, Kazan hosted the Founding Meeting of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities. In addition to institutional issues, future joint projects were discussed during the event and a number of agreements on cooperation and twinning between cities and associations of local governments were signed. The program of the Forum lasted until June 23.

A great contribution was made by the UCLG leaders throughout the preparatory phase for the establishment of the Association. In particular, 5 out of 7 Secretaries General and representatives of regions of UCLG, including Uğur Ibrahim Altay, President of the World Organization of UCLG, Mayor of Konya (Türkiye), Rasikh Sagitov, Secretary General of UCLG-Eurasia, Sergio Arredondo, Secretary General of FLACMA, Bernadia Irawati Secretary General of UCLG-ASPAC, Morris Mbolela, Deputy Secretary General of UCLG-Africa, and many others participated in the Founding Meeting in Kazan City Hall on Friday. Besides, the most active members of UCLG-Eurasia came to support the establishment of the Association. The meeting resulted in adopting the Declaration of the organization by members of the new Association, and Ilsur Metshin, President of UCLG-Eurasia, Mayor of Kazan, became the Chairman of the Association for the period of its formation.

A rich business and cultural program was prepared for the guests. The participants visited the city of Innopolis, the town-island of Sviyazhsk, planted trees in honor of the opening of the Alley of BRICS+ Cities in front of the historical pavilion of the Kazan Fair and opened the library of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities in the pavilion itself. On the final day, the guests of the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan visited Kazan Sabantuy in Mirny settlement.

It is highlighted that the total number of participants in the meeting amounted to more than 200 representatives from 20 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Iran, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia, Chile, Morocco, etc.

Note: the initiative to establish the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities is a promising project of the Kazan Municipality and widely supported by UCLG. The purpose of the Association will be broad-based cooperation of local governments of the BRICS countries, development of ties and protection of the values and interests of the BRICS municipal movement.

24.06.2024

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