2016 KRIHS–WBG Joint Workshop Opening Ceremony

Theme: Vitalizing Cities with Public Space
Date: Monday, November 14, 2016
Venue: Intercontinental Seoul COEX, Jupiter Hall (30th floor)
 
Global Development Partnership Center at the Korean Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) held the opening ceremony of the 2016 KRIHS–WBG Joint Workshop on Monday, November 14, on the 30th floor of the Intercontinental Seoul COEX, in Jupiter Hall.

 The four-day workshop (Monday, November 14, to Thursday, November 17) was attended by 36 policy practitioners and specialists from seven countries, including representatives of developing countries (China, Argentina, Kenya, Tanzania, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan), World Bank Group (WBG) staff members, and regional consultants. In accordance with the theme of the workshop, “Vitalizing Cities with Public Space,” participants will exchange knowledge and share experiences related to the work being done in their respective countries (Korea included) to create, maintain, and utilize public space. They also will discuss future challenges and how these could be addressed.

 Attendees at the opening ceremony included Ramiro Moya, Adviser to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Zhou Linjun, Senior Project Management Office Staff Consultant in Chongqing, China; Askhat Saduov, Deputy Director of the Astana Gen Plan Urban Center in Astana, Kazakhstan; Benjamin Orwa, Town Manager of Kakamega County, Kenya; Aboud Hassan Serenge, Director of the Zanzibar Municipal Council in Zanzibar, Tanzania; and Nazimjon Sabirov, Head of the Main Department for Financing in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

In his opening address, Dong-ju Kim, the President of KRIHS welcomed the workshop participants and encouraged them to recognize the value of public spaces and expand the role of public spaces in urban revitalization efforts in their respective countries. Deepali Tewari, Lead Urban Specialist at WBG, also delivered welcoming remarks and invited attendees to actively share their experiences regarding the development of public spaces—successes like those seen in Korea, as well as initiatives and challenges.

 For the next four days, the Global Development Partnership Center of KRIHS and WBG will provide a space for honest discussion of the efforts of partner countries to “vitalize cities with public space,” including setbacks and factors conducive to success, with the aim of offering helpful insights and inspiring new approaches to the use of public space.
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