Cape Town to Host First ICLEI (International Association of Local Governments) World Congress in Africa

Cape Town Executive Mayor, Alderman Nomaindia Mfeketo, signed the contract on behalf of the City whilst ICLEI's world president and Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Councillor Amos Masondo and Mr Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, the Secretary-General, signed for ICLEI.

The triennial congress will take place from 27 February to 3 March 2006 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It is the first of its kind in Africa and the southern hemisphere. About 500 delegates are expected to attend.

ICLEI is the international association of local governments to implement sustainable development. It consists of more than 500 cities and towns from some 200 countries around the world.

"We recognise that sustainability is not just an add-on to the agenda. It is increasingly a central focus area in the development and service delivery process. Cape Town knows that such development requires partnerships and we will therefore do all we can to make next year's congress the most successful ICLEI World Congress to date," says Alderman Mfeketo.

The congress aims to increase local government awareness and inter-action by exchanging information on successful projects, discussing case studies at workshops and visiting local sustainability projects in Cape Town.

"ICLEI placed local governments in the centre of the agenda. With this conference we will share best practices to save the world and our planet for future generations. The decision taken at next year's congress will not betray municipalities' role in improving the quality of life for all," says Councillor Masondo.

Over 500 delegates from 135 local governments from 59 countries attended the last World Congress in Athens in 2003.

Issued by:
Communication

City of Cape Town

Tel: 021 400 2201
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