By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi yesterday opened the ninth GCC Municipal Work conference at Sheraton Hotel.
The three- day annual conference is being held under the theme ‘The role of municipalities in achieving the goals of sustainable development in the light of the economic changes’.
In his opening address, the Minister said the conference is being held under many regional and international challenges, “which requires from us more and more of work and coordination”. e said the conference, held every year at one of GCC capitals, seeks exchange of knowledge and experiences at various levels to improve municipal services in the GCC states. He launched the electronic gate (website) for GCC municipal work. It includes information about municipalities, ministries, in addition to all meetings and allows the concerned to vote electronically on decisions.
In a statement, he said through this website, the municipality’s officials in GCC or any GCC citizens can see and monitor the development that the municipalities are witnessing.
The Minister also honoured the winners of municipal work award. The awards were presented to Al Ahsa Municipality in Saudi Arabia, Muscat municipality and Dubai. Riyadh and Doha Municipality have got excellence award.
Abdullah Juma Al Shibli, Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Affairs, GCC General Secretariat, said the cities and municipalities in GCC face big challenges related to achieving the sustainable development goals in the light of changes in the economic situation. The private and public sector should support development projects in municipal work field, he added.
The sessions yesterday discussed issues such as electronic system for building license, and geographic information system and its role in the city’s access to digital systems.
The Peninsula
