SL Prez to inaugurate Asian Mayors Conference

Dehra Dun, Nov 25: Around 41 Mayors from different Asian countries and 65 Mayors from Indian cities would participate in the First Asian Mayors Conference to be held here from tomorrow till November 28 here.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse will inaugurate the Conference, scheduled to be held at A M N Ghosh auditorium.

The main theme of the Conference would be ''Changing Concept of Urban Development''. Mayors from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Philippine, Oman, Vietnam and many more other Asian countries including India would discuss issues related to urban development.

The day one will begin with a welcome and inaugural address by Ms Manorma Dobriyal Sharma, Chairperson, All India Council of Mayors and Mayor, Dehra Dun. Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy and Mr Rajapakse will address thereafter. The inaugural session will end with the Presidential Address by Chief Minister of Uttaranchal N D Tiwari.

In the afternoon session of the first day, discussion will be held on ''Urban Poverty and Poverty Alleviation programme with emphasis on Gender Parity and Empowerment of Women''. ''Fostering a Global Association for Development'' would be discussed in the next session chaired by Dr Maxine Olson, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative. This will be followed by discussion on ''Innovative approaches in poverty alleviation: Universal Primary Education in Urban Areas which would be chaired by Minja Yang, Director and UNESCO Representative to India. Discussion on City to City Cooperation and Poverty alleviation would follow thereafter.

Dehra Dun Mayor Manorma Dobriyal Sharma said the city was ready by all means to welcome the guests.

UNI

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