The UCLG-MEWA Committee on Urban Mobility organized “UCLG-MEWA Urban Mobility Şanlıurfa Summit” from 20 to 22 November 2018 in Şanlıurfa, Turkey. The Summit was attended by a large number academics, representatives of local governments, private sector and international organizations.

The sessions of the Summit covered various topics such as Smart Transportation, Transportation Financing, Governance and Operating, and Eco-Friendly Transport and included a special session for Mayors of Metropolises.

The D-8 Secretary-General, Ambassador Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari delivered his statement on the second day of the Summit with the theme “Transportation Financing, Governance and Operating”. He pointed out that there exists a causal relation between the quality and quantity of transportation infrastructure of a nation and its level of economic development and therefore D-8 promotes increasing access to existing transportation networks and creating non existing ones in all Member States, from the urban level to as high as the international level. He also apprised the gathering on initative to establish a network of D-8 airports and stressed that Sabiha Gökçen Airport is identified as the first Designated Airport of the D-8 with the Letter of Intent signed on 2nd August, 2018 which will pave the way for a D-8 Airport Association in future.

Ambassador Ku Shaari also mentioned that the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Transportation will be held in Turkey in the first half of 2019 and reiterated that the D-8 is eager to bring relevant stakeholders together for know-how, information and experience sharing on this platform as well as other platforms.

Link: Statement by the D-8 Secretary-General at the UCLG-MEWA Urban Mobility Şanlıurfa Summit