The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) will on Wednesday 28 September take its plans towards becoming a Globally Competitive City-Region (GCR) a few steps further, as it joins 19 other regional governments in Milan for the second edition of the World Regions Forum (WRF).
The WRF was first held in 2009 following the global economic meltdown with the understanding that regions would be better able to deal with the impact of the recession. Premier Nomvula Mokonyane will again represent Gauteng, the only region in Africa to be invited to the gathering.
The three-day event will take place in Lombardy’s regional government headquarters from 28 - 30 September, and will have a particular slant on issues around healthcare, environmental sustainability, and knowledge-based economies, which are also part of the GPG’s priorities for this term of office.
“We believe that the discussions and other regions’ experiences on the above topics, will help open bottlenecks in areas of healthcare for all, food security, and growing the economy – challenges which our own province is currently tackling head-on,” Mokonyane said.
“Sharing good practice among like-minded regions will also help accelerate the delivery of quality services to our communities,” the Gauteng Premier added.
Accompanying Premier Mokonyane will be a delegation comprised of experts and officials from the departments of Health and Social Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Economic Development.
The Premier will deliver her opening remarks at the conference, after Milano President Roberto Formigoni officially opens the gathering.
The Forum will also be attended by Baden Wurttenberg, Bavaria, California, Ile de France, Illinois, Massachusetts, Madrid, Nuevo Leon, New South Wales, Quebec, Saint Petersburg, Sao Paolo, Shanghai, and Singapore. It is expected that Gauteng will also strengthen its economic relations with the regions.
For more information contact:
Xoli Mngambi
Cell: 082 373 1146
