Libya’s Planning Institute reported yesterday that the Minister of Planning, Mohamed Al-Zeidani, discussed the organisational, technical and scientific preparations for the launch of the International Forum for Smart Cities in Libya, during a meeting held on Wednesday.
The meeting included the Director General of the Planning Institute, Mustafa Al-Arqat, and a delegation of experts and specialists from Egypt, headed by Mohamed Al-Khatib.
The meeting addressed the general vision of the forum, its strategic objectives and scientific axes, as well as coordination and cooperation mechanisms with national, regional and international institutions. It also contributes to the preparation of a forum that constitutes a platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge and reviewing pioneering experiences and innovative solutions in the fields of smart cities and sustainable urban planning.
The meeting stressed the importance of linking the forum's themes to the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Goal 11 on creating inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. This also includes Goal 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, Goal 13 on climate action, and Goal 17 on strengthening partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The participants also discussed ways to benefit from scientific and technical expertise in crystallizing an integrated national vision for the development of Libyan cities, based on scientific planning, innovation, digital transformation and environmental sustainability. This included taking into account the economic, urban and social specificities in Libya, facing the challenges of urbanization, improving the efficiency of services, and enhancing the ability of cities to adapt to future changes.
In this context, the scientific and technical role of the Planning Institute in the preparation of the forum was emphasized, by contributing to the identification of its scientific axes, attracting specialized expertise, and expanding cooperation with research and academic institutions, in order to ensure that its outputs are linked to national development priorities and sustainable development goals. It also includes supporting the transformation of recommendations into implementable, measurable and follow-up initiatives and projects.
The preparations for the launch of the International Smart Cities Forum come within the framework of efforts aimed at developing the urban planning system in Libya, promoting the use of modern technologies in city management and improving their services.
In addition, it comes within plans to expand the horizons of Arab and international cooperation in the fields of innovation, digital transformation and sustainable development, in a way that supports the trend towards smarter, sustainable and resilient Libyan cities, and contributes to achieving economic, social and environmental development.