CITYNET Yokohama Congress 2009 - Press Release

From across Asia and around the globe, over 2,600 participants including 260 key members of local governments, UN agencies and leading authorities on urban issues will come together for a special CITYNET event, from September 7 – 11, 2009, coinciding with the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Opening of the Port in Yokohama. Best practices, challenges and solutions to issues affecting cities will be discussed in lively sessions.

Highlighting the theme of "Harmonious Cities for Our Future" the Congress will tackle urgent issues of climate change and global warming, urban safety, providing basic services, gender-friendliness, financing infrastructure, disaster risks reduction, forming strategic partnerships and good governance, among others to create multi-faceted, practical approaches to promote urban solutions that have lasting effects.
Through forums, roundtables, dialogues, networking events and technical visits participants from over 20 countries will have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of issues and set in motion feasible plans of action.

Esteemed speakers, panellists and guests include C. W. Nicol an internationally renowned author and environmentalist who will give the keynote speech; the Mayors of Yokohama, Mumbai, Seoul, Banda Aceh, Dhaka, San Fernando and Palembang as well as the Governors of Phnom Penh. Speakers and guests from UNESCAP, UN-HABITAT, UNITAR, UN Millennium Campaign, ADB, World Bank, UN/ISDR and the United Nations University (UNU).


C.W. Nicol,
author and environmentalist Shubha Raul, Mayor of Mumbai Ken Noguichi, world renowned alpinist

CITYNET Yokohama Congress Sessions Include:
- A Public Forum on Combating Global Warming
- Making Public-Private Partnerships Work
- Bridging the Gap between Ecology and Economy
- Creating Gender-Friendly Cities
- Access to Basic Urban Services
- Enhancing Cooperation between Asian & European Cities
- Urban Safety
- City Development for People by People
- Cities and Universities
- Financing Urban Infrastructure
- Strengthening Municipal Associations
- Urban Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Other CITYNET Yokohama Congress Key Speakers include:S(alphabetical order please)peakers include:
- Rei Kikukawa, actress/special supporter for UNHCR
- Michael Lindfield, Principal Urban Development Specialist, ADB-CDIA
- Daniel Cukierman, CEO Veolia Transport RATP Asia
- Erna Witoelar, former UN Special Ambassador on MDGs in Asia and the Pacific
- Somsook Boonyabancha, Secretary-General, ACHR
- Chamniern P. Vorratnchaiphan, Director, Thailand Environment Institute
- Marielza Couto E Silva De Oliveira, Associate Director, Governance Unit, UNITAR
- Anand Chiplunkar, Principal Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist, ADB
- Hiroaki Suzuki, Lead Urban Specialist, Finance Economics & Urban Department, the World Bank
- Om Prakash Mathur, Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy of India
- Takejiro Sueyoshi, Special Advisor to UNEP Finance Initiative and the PRI (Principles for Responsible in Investment) in the Asia Pacific region (Japan)
- Mohamed Saleheen, Director, WFP Japan

Official Launch of the Asian Sanitation Data Book 2008
The Asian Sanitation Data Book 2008

will be officially launched at the Congress. This a joint initiative with ADB and in cooperation with UN-HABITAT and Veolia Environnement as the first Data book of its kind ever released in the region as a way to improve sanitation standards in Asian cities.

What is CITYNET?

CITYNET is an active network connecting more than 100 cities/local governments and organisations mainly in the Asia-Pacific region working towards creating resilient, people-friendly communities for all. Programmes and training that promote the exchange of expertise and the building of partnerships form the basis for ensuring that governments have the means to cope with increasing populations and demands on our cities. For over 22 years CITYNET has expanded to become a unique and innovative international organisation working with various partners such as UNITAR, UNESCAP, UN-HABITAT, ADB and JICA to enable solutions to urban-related issues such as poverty, infrastructure, disaster and the environment.

By strengthening collaboration within its network, CITYNET targets connecting a thousand more local governments and partners in the near future. Together we can do more. www.citynet-ap.org
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Expected participants from overseas (as of September 1, 2009):
（1） Cities and organisations from overseas： 56 cities from 16 countries/areas (25 people in governor/mayoral positions) including Mumbai, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh and Dhaka and 27 organisations. *Governor/Mayor position participants: Dhaka, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, etc.
2） International institutes: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, The United Nations Human Settlements Programme（UN-HABITAT, The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific（UNESCAP, The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others.）

Advance Applications for Media Coverage
Please submit the names of the journalists, telephone/fax numbers and name of the publications to the following contact.

Applications are due by 5:00 PM, Friday, September 4.
１． Registration
＊ Prior to attending the conference, please register and receive a badge at the following registration desk. Wearing a badge is required during the event.

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2pm - 6pm, Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center 2nd floor, registration desk
Monday, September 7 to Friday, September 10, 8am - 6pm, Same as above

２. About the Coverage
＊ There is a camera shooting area at the opening session from 9:30am on Tuesday, September 8, and Asia Pacific Urban Forum. Please ask staff for the shooting area. For the coverage, please take a seat anywhere that we have not prepared a press seat.
＊ Please attach your company armband with a name card for the coverage, in particular for the Camera coverage.
３. Press room（Wireless LAN connectivity is available.）
【Venue】 Room 315, Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center 3rd floor
【Opening date】 Monday, September 7 to Thursday, September 10, 8am – 7pm

For further inquiries and applications regarding CITYNET Yokohama Congress please contact:
Office for CITYNET Yokohama Congress, Office of International Policy, Urban Management and Planning Bureau of the City of Yokohama
Tel: (045)641-2400 / Fax: (045)641-2501 e-mail: ts-congress2009(at)city.yokohama.jp

For media inquiries regarding CITYNET please contact:
Sonya Poller, Communications and Information Officer, CITYNET
Tel: (81-45) 223-2161 / Fax: (81-45)223 -2162 e-mail: communication(at)citynet-ap.org

All media inquires during Congress: Tel: 045 – 228-6460 ext. 5800 / Fax: 045-228-6458