City and Delegate Profiles

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Bangladesh Benapole Benapole Pourashava (town) is located in Sharsha () about 7 km from headquarter and about 34 km from the district headquarter, Jessore. The Pourashava came into existence on 16th May 2006 as a `C’ Class Pourashava and became an `A’ Class Pourashava on 20 September 2011.

The 2011 total population of the Pourashava is 88,672. Benapole Pourashava is governed by 1 Mayor and 12 Councilors – 9 male and 3 female. The Pourashava is spread over an area of 17.40 km2 and is divided into 9 wards consisting of 9 mouzas. Benapole Pourashava has regional significance because the Asian Highway and Railway line both pass through the Pourashava. The Pourashava faces many problems like the lack of planned residential areas, lack of electricity and safe drinking water, traffic congestion, lack of community facilities, lack of infrastructure facilities, and poor capacity of the Pourashava administration etc.

Population size 88,672 Land area (km2) 17.4 Population density (per km2) 5,096

Md. Asraful Alam Liton Mayor, Benapole

He is a businessman by profession and became the Mayor of Benapole in February 2011.

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Bangladesh Chuadanga was a sub-division of former District and was upgraded to a District on 26th February, 1984. It was raised to the status of a Municipality in 1972 and became a “B” class Municipality in 1984. At that time, Chuadanga Municipality had an area of 32.67 km2 with three wards and 13 mahallas. It was upgraded to an “A” class Municipality in 1995 with an area of 37.39 km2, consisting of 9 wards, 41 mahallas, 13 mouzas and 71 mouza sheet (BBS-2001).

The total population of the city is 174,250, and the population density is 4,660. There are 15,814 government and non-government holdings and 31,442 households in this city. The average family size is six persons per household. There is a network of 263 km of roadways and 54 km of drains in the city. In terms of the water supply systems, the city has 72 km of service lines, 10 production tube-wells and 3 over head tanks. The literacy rate is 62%.

Population size 174,250 Land area (km2) 37.39 Population density (per km2) 4,660

Reajul Islam Joarder Mayor, Chuadanga Municipality

Occupation: Business Educational qualification: HSC

Bangladesh Savar The origin of the name Savar is thought to be a version of an ancient 7th- 8th century township of Shôrbeshshôr ("Lord of everything") or Shômbhar ("Collection") situated on the bank of the river known today as Bangshee. It was the capital of the Sanbagh Kingdom then. Based on pottery inscriptions dating to the sixth century, many foreign traders used to visit for business. There are also legends of the famous Bengali Buddhist monk Atish Dipankar having stayed at the Buddhist monastery at Rajashan for some time.

Savar Pourashava is one of the Local Government Administrative units

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3 located about 25 km northwest of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Savar is famous for its Jatiyo SmritiSoudho, the National Monument for the Martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, garment industries and commercial activities. The garment industries have created many job opportunities, particularly for women. Savar Municipality has been facing rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization. Savar as a satellite town offers employment opportunities within and outside the Pourashava area. To cope with demands of an increasing population, different public facilities for city dwellers are being developed rapidly. There are 30 primary schools, 4 high schools, 3 collages, 1 medical college, 2 technical institutes, 1 public library, and 1 heritage area (Raja Harish Chandra Bihar) in Savar Pourashava.

Population size 587,041 Land area (km2) 14.08 Population density (per km2) 18,000

Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury Chief Executive Officer, Savar Municipality

Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury is a mid-level bureaucrat. He joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1999. He earned his MSc degree from Chittagong University. He also earned an MBA degree from Northern University, Bangladesh. He has worked in different capacities including district administration (including Mymensingh Municipality) and different ministries; and is now the Chief Executive Officer in Savar municipality, Savar, Dhaka, which is a densely populated industrial area. In Bangladesh, city corporations and are mainly responsible for providing services in urban areas. In Savar municipality, he is responsible for the coordination, monitoring, policy formulation and implementation all activities including development projects under the direct supervision of the Mayor. He supervises all the staff of the municipality on behalf of the Mayor. As CEO, he supervises all on-going development projects ie. City Region Development Project and UPPR project. He is responsible for preparing the master plan of the municipality. During his tenure, he has gained significant knowledge in good governance, poverty reduction, community participation in municipality planning, etc.

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Bangladesh Gaffargaon Located 41 km from the town, Gaffargaon city stands on the banks of the Brammaputra river. Gaffargaon Municipality is a class-A municipality. It was established in 1999 and was a class-C city at that time. It was (re) classified as a class-A city in 2011.

This municipality is divided into 9 wards and has a total population of around 60,000. Most of the people of this municipality are literate and in the service industry. Some of them are businessmen. It contains a government Degree College, two non-government Degree Colleges, Fazil Madrasha, Dakhil Madrasha, two Government High schools, two non- government High schools, one fire service station, one police station, one Government Hospital, one railway station and many other government and private offices. The major roads of this municipality are B.C road (25.02 K.M), C.C road (4.71 K.M), H.BB road (24.30 K.M) and earthen road (59.73 K.M). It is replete with natural beauty and I feel proud to govern this Municipality.

Population size 60,000 Land area (km2) 5.33 Population density (per km2) 11,256

Kaiser Ahammad Mayor, Gaffargaon Municipality

An Advocate and the elected Mayor of Gaffargaon Municipality since 17 January 2011, he is also the Elected Vice-President of the Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law.

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Bangladesh Dohar Dohar Municipality is a fast growing city located 40km from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. It is predominantly residential with a significant amount of land under commercial use. Joypara Debinagar Hat-Bazar is the main commercial center of the city. Residential houses with handloom industries are often seen in and around the city area. A large proportion of men of the city are expatriates, and their repatriations play an important role in the municipality’s economy.

Several canals cross the municipality and one or two of them are connected with the mighty . The city has many narrow roads with frequent curves. There are three routes which connect the city with Dhaka metropolitan area. There is no planned drainage network and the central part of the city often faces water logging in the rainy season due to inefficient drains. There is no gas line, piped water supply and sewerage network. People use bottled gas/wood for cooking and hand-tube wells for drinking water. Many people use hygienic pit latrines with septic tanks. People generally are health conscious. Most parents are careful about their children and ensure their school going. The city has a good amount of agriculture land, with fresh vegetables and food crops available. There is a lot of greenery around the roads and houses. As Dhaka city is only 40 km away from Dohar, it could be a potential satellite city of Dhaka for healthy living with greenery.

Population size 71,362 Land area (km2) 19.73 Population density (per km2) 3,617

Md. Mashiur Rahman Executive Engineer, Dohar Municipality

Mr. Md. Mashiur Rahman completed his diploma in civil engineering from Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute in 1988. He also has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from World University of Bangladesh (2012). He entered the Local Government Division (LGD), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh in 1990 as Sub-assistant Engineer (civil) of Shahazadpur Municipality, Sirajgonj. He then worked for Fulbari, Municipality, Dinajpur, Madhabdi and Ghorashal Municipality, Norosingdi, Singra Municipality, Natore and is currently working for Dohar Municipality, Dhaka since 1999. In 1999, he was promoted to Assistant Engineer (civil) and subsequently promoted in 2011 to the position of Executive Engineer.

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During his tenure at the present municipality, he has strived for a self- sufficient, planned, beautiful looking and inclusive city. After his joining the municipality, they formed CBO (community based organization), WLCC (Ward Level Co-ordination Committee) and TLCC (Town Level Co-ordination Committee) for better participation of citizens in Municipality’s work. To ensure better quality of development work, a Quality Control Laboratory has also been set up. To better serve the citizens, the Municipality office has been computerized.

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Bhutan Samdrup Samdrup Jongkhar or Municipality is located in the south eastern foothills of the country. It covers an area of 5 km2, consisting of two towns Jongkhar – namely, Samdrup Jongkhar and Dewathan. Samdrup Jongkhar Municipality was established only in 2010. The total population of these two towns is roughly 10,000 people. Samdrup Jongkhar town lies at an altitude of 150 meters above sea level whereas Dewathang town is 800 meters above sea level. The distance between these two towns is 18 km.

Samdrup Jongkhar Municipality also shares an international border with and is considered as the gateway to the whole of eastern region of the country. The export and import of all goods is routed through the municipality. The municipality is the vital link to the six districts of the eastern region of the country.

Population size 10,545 Land area (km2) 4.47 Population density (per km2) 2,359

Karma Sherab Thobgyal Mayor, Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde (Municipality)

He is the Mayor of Samdrup Jongkhar Municipality which is nestled in the south eastern foothills of Bhutan, a small kingdom in the Himalayas, landlocked between the two Asian giants of the People’s Republic of China in the north and India in the south.

He is 44 years old and married with a four year old son. He lives in Samdrup Jongkhar town, which is a part of the municipality. He graduated with B.A in English Honors from the University of Delhi, India. He has also successfully completed the 18 months Officers’ Training Course from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, India. He served in the Royal Bhutan Police for nine years from 1995 to 2004. When the first local government elections were held in 2011, he participated as one of the candidates and won to become the first Mayor of Samdrup Jongkhar Municipality. His term expires in January 2016.

Thuji Tshering Executive Secretary, Thromde (Municipal) Administration, Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde (Municipality)

Trained in agricultural sciences with an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of London, UK, Mr Tshering started his career as an Assistant

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Research Officer at the Agriculture Research Centre, Yusipang, Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu, Bhutan. He joined the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Agriculture as a Joint Director in 2000, later being promoted to Chief Regulatory and Quarantine Officer. He joined the Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde Administration as Executive Secretary in 2011.

He is responsible for the preparation of the annual budget for the Thromde’s operations, protection and improvement of the city’s environment, approval of building drawings in accordance with the codes and the preparation of the Thromde structural plan including land use plans and the formulation of local area plans in accordance to the priorities of the Thromde.

He has also shouldered diverse responsibilities such as working as member of the Hospitality Sub-Committee of the National Steering Committee for the Centenary and Coronation Celebrations (September – December 2008), for which he was awarded a Coronation Medal by the Prime Minister. He has also served as the representative from the Ministry of Agriculture in the Resettlement Programs at Samdrup Jongkhar (Kawaipani, Dumpha, Diglai, Daifam), Gelephu (Taklai, Lalai, Dhanabari), Samtse (Nainital, Ghumaunay) in 1993.

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Bhutan Thimphu The capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu has been in existence for the last 4 decades and has gone through exponential growth during the last 3 years. The structural plan for the city was prepared and approved by the Government in 2004. Since then, the municipal office has implemented many Local Area Plans supported by loans from ADB and World Bank.

Thimphu is unique among capital cities in the world – it does not have traffic lights, billboards or fast food outlets like McDonalds, KFC etc. The buildings are constructed in traditional Bhutanese architecture and cultural heritage sites are being preserved for future generations. The city is challenged by resource limitations such as technical expertise and financial resources. Some of the priorities of the municipality include providing adequate safe drinking water supply, waste management and managing growing vehicular population. The first Public Private Partnership (PPP) project to construct two multilevel car parks in the core city area is under progress and will be ready in next two years.

In the environmental aspects, the city has a balanced structural plan wherein the ecosystem, the biodiversity and recreational spaces (including river buffers) have been well structured and adhered to. The plan has different precincts for development and environmental conservation such as E2 and E4. In E4 precinct you are allowed to construct houses but only up to 20% of the area, while no construction is allowed in E2 precincts. Work is underway to promote public transport to reduce pollution and decongest the city roads. Vehicular emissions are the largest greenhouse gas emission in the city and we need to control this through efficient public bus services and building pedestrian friendly walkways.

Population size 130,000 Land area (km2) 26 Population density (per km2) 5,000

Kinlay Dorjee Mayor, Thimphu Municipal Government

He is the first elected Mayor of Thimphu and took office in February 2011. He has 15 years of extensive experience in the power sector, formerly with the Department of Power and then with the Bhutan Power Corporation Limited, where he was part of the senior management team, providing strategic direction to the company in its expansion plans and services delivery to 95,518 electricity users in the country. He has demonstrated perseverance and leadership qualities in times of danger by executing the

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Eastern Bhutan transmission projects in insurgency areas (1999-2002). He has managed many complex projects under adverse conditions and has managed to complete them in time and within budget.

Within a year of becoming the Mayor, he has made substantial progress by providing sufficient drinking water supply for the total population of 130,000. The municipal government has taken over the management of urban roads from the Department of Roads in July 2011, and significant improvements have been made in the maintenance of the roads and drainage system. He has also executed important projects like multi-story parking facility, introduction of electric public buses and projects for waste segregation/ reduction.

Thinley Norbu Deputy Chief Urban Planner, Thimphu

He was appointed head of the Architecture and Planning Cell of the Phuentsholing City Corporation (PCC) upon joining the service in 2003. From 2006, he took charge of Development Control Division of PCC and worked closely with the Urban Planning Division of PCC and coordinated with the Urban Planning and Development Division of the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement, Thimphu.

He has handled numerous issues related to building construction and developments within the and the issuance of development permits in accordance with the Building byelaws and Phuentsholing Urban Development Plan 2002-2017. He prepared user friendly guidelines, forms and methodologies for the implementation of building permit procedures with proper public consultation. He was also actively involved in the preparation of Phuentsholing Thromde‟s 10th FY plan and budget proposals.

In his work in Thimphu Thromde, he Initiated and prepared a report on “Resolving Excess/Deficit Land Issues of the Old Thimphu City Area”, with the help of other urban planners, survey engineers and Chief Urban Planner. Besides his work at the Urban Planning Division, he also serves as a Component I Project Manager for the World Bank Grant Project for the preparation of Strategic Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Plan of Thimphu City.

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Cambodia Battambang With approximately 140,000 inhabitants Battambang is one of Cambodia’s largest secondary cities. It is a prosperous city situated in a very fertile agricultural area in northwestern Cambodia, near the Tonle Sap Lake; it is widely known as the rice-bowl of Cambodia. Battambang Municipality is the economic and cultural center of the Battambang province. The landmark of the city is the Sangker River, with parks and recreation areas on both riverbanks. The Asian Highway #1 runs through the city and connects Battambang to ’s capital Phnom Penh in the southeast and the Thailand border 110km away in the northwest.

Battambang is rich in built heritage – the oldest of which dates back to the 19th century. Within the historical city center, there are more than 800 shop-houses from the French colonial era. This tourism asset is important for the future development of the city as the number of domestic and foreign visitors is steadily increasing. Because of its unique features, Battambang Municipality was awarded the first prize in 2014 in a countrywide clean city competition. Battambang has also applied for the 3rd ASEAN environmentally sustainable cities (ESC) award.

Population size 143,000 (2008) Land area (km2) 115.5 Population density (per km2) 1,238

Wounzy Em Sieng Mayor of Battambang City

He started his career in 1984 as Deputy of Industry of the Provincial Department of Battambang. In 2003, he joined the Customs Office of the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh. In 2005, he joined as the Deputy District Governor of Battambang, before becoming the Deputy Municipal Governor of Battambang in 2009 and the Municipal Governor of Battambang in 2014.

He has a bachelor in Architecture and Urban Planning (Phnom Penh, 1998) and a Master in Business and Economic Management in (Battambang, 2011).

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Cambodia Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. It is a center of security, politics, economics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy. The capital has modified its boundary in four stages. Phnom Penh is located in the south-central region of Cambodia, at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong, and Bassac rivers. These rivers provide potential freshwater and the river ecosystems are important resources for sustainable environmental conditions, natural beauty and a prosperous culture for the people of Phnom Penh City. Phnom Penh lies in front of the Mekong River, which is the main river in Asia with a length of 4,200km. The river crosses Cambodia from North to South with a total length of 486km and passes Phnom Penh at an intersection of the river to create attractive freshwater and ecosystems for the city.

The national GDP per capita is USD 769 (2009); while GDP per capita in Phnom Penh is USD 820 (2005). 75% of the country’s industrial investments are in Phnom Penh. The city also accounts for three-quarters of the transportation industry. Phnom Penh attracts 950,000 tourists in a year. Phnom Penh is also a key node in the west-east axis of the regional Growth Economic Corridor of roads, railways and airways stretching from Bangkok to Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. On the north-south axis, Phnom Penh lies between Sihanouk Ville (port) and Upper Mekong region.

Population size 1,501,725 Land area (km2) 678.46 Population density (per km2) 2,213

Tep Makathy Project Team Leader, Green Goal Ltd (ADB-CDTA-8121: Capacity Development for Urban Management in Cambodia) and Assistant Dean of Faculty of Architecture and Design of Pannasastra University of Cambodia.

Dr. Tep Makathy was born in Cambodia and obtained a Ph.D in the field of Urban Engineering from Tokyo University in 2008 and Master of Science in the field of Urban Environmental Management (UEM) from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in 2003 in Bangkok. He is currently, a member of the Supreme National Economic Council (SNEC); Cambodia Society of Architects (CSA); and City Planning Institute of Japan (CPIJ). He has been engaged in independent research and consultancy since 1997. He joined the World Bank in 2010 as an Environmental Safeguard Specialist for Bank financed- infrastructure projects in Cambodia and Lao PDR including GMS power trade, road and rehabilitation, disaster management, health and education, and land management projects. During 2009-10, he led an ADB financed-

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13 feasibility study on urban environmental infrastructure projects in Battambang (initiated by the Cities Development Initiative in Asia). Currently, as part of the ADB initiated-GMS corridor development program, he is assigned as Project Team Leader of the ADB financed-capacity development for urban management in Cambodia for 2013-15.

Tep Makathy is also an Assistant Dean of Faculty of Architecture and Design of Pannasastra at the University of Cambodia, a leading private university in Cambodia with more than 20,000 students. He is in charge of Urban Planning and Design and international affairs. Makathy established the first planning professional association in Cambodia, "The City Planning Professionals of Cambodia (CPPC)".

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Cambodia Siem Reap Siem Reap Province is located in north western Cambodia, 314 km from Phnom Penn. At the center of Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap Municipality is situated between Mt. Kulen in the north and Tonle Sap Lake in the south. Siem Reap was the ancient capital of the Angkorian state for about 650 years from the beginning of 9th century to the middle of 15th century. It dominated vast stretches of interior Indochina in its golden age. Siem Reap was the hub of ancient roads and waterways toward major towns within and outside Cambodia. The state was prosperous with sophisticated ancient irrigation systems that made use of a tidal range of Tonle Sap Lake.

Today, Siem Reap is a major tourist hub in Cambodia, given its proximity to the temples of Angkor – such as Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom – one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. In 1992, UNESCO placed Angkor on the World Heritage List. In 2013, tourist numbers reached 4,210,165, including 2,237,286 international tourists. The basic infrastructure of the city center – such as the road grid – was established in 1930s under the French Protectorate; and some infrastructure is lagging current demand.

Siem Reap Provincial Government conducted a study from 2004 to 2006 on an Integrated Master Plan for Sustainable Development of Siem Reap/Angkor Town, with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Master Plan Study set a vision – “Siem Reap/Angkor Town 2020” – for Siem Reap to be “a beautiful and unique tourist city based on a harmony of history, arts and nature of Khmer”. Siem Reap/Angkor Town will feature (i) a quality tourism city where tourists can feel a touch of Khmer culture, Khmer history and Khmer arts; (ii) a human scale city in the atmosphere of Angkor; and (iii) an environmentally friendly city. Six strategies have been presented towards this vision, (i) promoting up-market tourism; (ii) maximizing local benefits from tourism; (iii) making town more attractive to tourists; (iv) making town more sustainable in environment; (v) strengthening infrastructure for tourists and people; (vi) strengthening local administration and finance. To realize the vision, 69 projects/programs based on the 6 strategies were proposed. As of May 2010, more than half of the projects/programs are in some progress.

Population size 244,285 (2013) Land area (km2) 472.73 Population density (per km2) 517

So Platong Acting Governor of Siem Reap Municipality

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India Sheyphali Bhargava Sharan Director, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India

India

Vijayawada Vijayawada is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh after Visakhapatnam. The city is situated at the foot of a low range hill (Eastern Ghats) on the northern bank of River Krishna with its cardinal points as 16°31’ North latitude and 80°37’ East longitude. The city is about 70 km away from the coast, and has three canals passing through the city. The climate of Vijayawada is tropical with hot summers and moderate winters. Vijayawada is located on the border which separates the delta-irrigated lands from the dry up-lands of the Krishna district. Vijayawada became a municipality on 1st April, 1888 and was upgraded into a Municipal Corporation in 1981.

It is considered the agricultural and business capital of Andhra Pradesh, with economic activities such as whole sale trading & automobile industry. It is one of the educational hubs of the state with a large number of educational institutions, including medical university and professional colleges. Vijayawada is a major road and rail hub, and has one of the major railway junctions in South India, connecting the city to other major cities in India. It Vijayawada is also a major tourist center, with many historical and pilgrimage sites in and around the city.

Population size 1.104 million

Land area (km2) 61.88

Population density (per km2) 17,840

C. Hari Kiran Municipal Commissioner, Vijayawada

He holds a postgraduate in biotechnology from Indian Institute of technology (IIT), Bombay. In 2009, Mr. Kiran was selected to join the Indian Administrative service (IAS), the top civil service in India. He served as Sub- Divisional Magistrate in the province of Andhra Pradesh until 2013. Since 2013, he has been working as Municipal commissioner of Vijayawada city. South-South City Leaders’ Forum 2014

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Indonesia Tangerang In 2007, Tangerang city was one of the dirtiest cities in Indonesia as classified by Ministry of Environment. The Tangerang City Local Government joined stakeholders to promote awareness of clean and healthy life and culture in the community. A lot of work has been done and these have started showing results. In 2009 Tangerang City received an award for the best efforts in making the environment cleaner. In consecutive years, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Tangerang City was awarded Adipura in the cleanest metropolian city catagory.

In 2013, Tangerang City received Adipura Kencana Award which is the highest award in the country for city hygiene and environmental management. This Adipura Kencana Award was given directly by the President of Indonesia on the Environment Day function held at the State Palace. It takes effort and commitment from the Tangerang city local government and the Tangerang city citizens to maintain this achievement and to build a culture of cleanliness all the time – it has really become a lifestyle for the people. In addition to Adipura Kencana Award, Tangerang City Government has also won awards in the Regional Environment Facility. This award is in appreciation of the hygiene programs that have been implemented, including its waste management program.

Population size 1.9 million (2012) Land area (km2) ±184.24 Population density (per km2) 11,000

Arief Rachadiono Wismansyah Mayor, Tangerang City

Arief Wismansyah is the Mayor of Tangerang, a city of 1.7 million inhabitants close to Jakarta. Mayor Wismansyah is one of Indonesia’s youngest mayors. He was born in Karawaci, Tangerang City, 23 April 1977. Prior to becoming mayor, Mayor Wismansyah was Vice-Mayor and an entrepreneur. He is credited for the development of 1,000 free health clinics, 541 schools and improvements made to flood mitigation systems, roads, sanitation and waste management. Wismansyah’s various innovations and tireless efforts as Vice-Mayor were recognized with more than 30 awards from various ministries and the Indonesian president. One of the key achievements during his tenure was turning Tangerang from one of Indonesia’s dirtiest cities into the cleanest city in the country.

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The Republic of Korea Seoul Located at the heart of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul has been an important strategic defense and economic point for over 600 years. Seoul is within a three- hour flight from 43 cities with populations of over one million people. The Republic of Korea’s location between the People’s Republic of China and Japan has been a great geographical advantage for the nation. The Hangang (Han River) flows horizontally across Seoul, dividing the city into two sections lying north and south of the river. There are 25 autonomous districts and 424 administrative “dong” units in Seoul. The city covers 0.28% of the entire peninsula (or 0.61% of the country), and spans an area 30.30 km north-to-south and 34.78 km west-to-east.

Since 1960's, Seoul’s urban planning can be divided into two major periods. The first period was from the 1960s to 1990s, in which the urban planning focused on rapid urban expansion to accommodate the exploding population. The sudden population increase in the unprepared city rapidly aggravated various urban problems including poverty, unemployment, slum, congestion, sanitation, crime, pollution, and disaster. To alleviate such problems, planning had to respond quickly and its implementation had to be speedy to make practical changes. Since mid-1990s, Seoul’s urban planning focused on recreating the city to accord with the creative economy. Seoul’s population growth was stabilized as new towns for 1.2 million people were constructed in the outskirts of the city in the early 1990s, and the city could afford to examine what had been neglected during the expansion period.

Seoul has had a remarkable experience of developing from being one of the poorest into one of the most sustainable cities in the world in just a matter of 50 years. Urban planning, as a means to improve sustainability, has contributed greatly to such development. Throughout the urban transformation, planning enables the efficient use of land, the major asset of the city. Planning also becomes the foundation to achieve environment- friendly public transportation and ensures the preservation of the natural environment. Urban planning helps to distribute the benefits of development to citizens, allowing them to enjoy a better quality of life, and ensures the next generation is more affluent than the current generation.

Population size 10,437,737 (2013) Land area (km2) 605.2 Population density (per km2) 17,164

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Yeonsik, Yoo Director General of International Relations Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Vice Secretary General of CITYNET

Yeonsik joined Seoul Metropolitan Government in 1996 and became Director of Cultural Infra Division, International Cooperation Division in 2005. In 2012, he was Director of Women and Family Division. He was became Director General of International Relations Division and Vice Secretary General of CITYNET in 2014.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Law from Seoul National University in 1989 and a Master of Policy from the same university in 1992. He was awarded a Master of Legal Institution from the University of Wisconsin in 2002.

Eun-sung, Eom Deputy Director of Global Urban Partnership Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government

Eun-sung is in charge of attracting international organizations to Seoul and managing these organizations. She passed the High Civil Service Examination in 2011, and has worked for the Seoul Metropolitan Government for 1 year.

She graduated from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea, majoring in

public administration.

Mi Jeong, Park Manager for International Relations Bureau, Seoul Metropolitan Government

She is in charge of overseeing cooperative relationship with International Organizations and hosting the regional office of International Organizations in Seoul. She has since worked for the city government leading key departments of Convention Bureau for years, International Relations Division and Global Urban Partnership Division. She has organized many big conferences such as G20 2010 in Seoul, Annual Congress of ANMC21, CITYNET, Joint workshop and Consultation meeting for Seoul city.

She holds Ph.D. in management of International conference and exhibition from Kyunghee University and M.B.A. from University of Kwangwoon. She graduated from Sookmyung University with B.A. in Business Administration and Tourism.

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Lao People’s Democratic Republic Pakse Pakse is the capital town of Champasack Province with a total of 12,348 households and a population of 77,647, of which 40,334 are the women. According to the 2005 National Census, Pakse was the third largest urban center by population after Vientiane Capital and Kaysone Phomvihane. However the rapid growth of Pakse since then suggests that it is probably now second only to Vientiane.

Population size 77,647 Land area (km2) 12,508 Population density (per km2) 630

Bouasone Vongsongkhone Vice Governor, Champasack Governor Office, Champasack Province

Mr Bouasone Vongsongkhone was born on 12 November 1957 in Khankeung village, Pakse District, Champsack province. He studied general finance from 1978-1980. From 1980-1987 he studied theoretical administration in Viet Nam. In 2011-2012 he studied economic management at the National Administration and Political Institute, Lao PDR. He has also obtained many certificates on urban and rural development issues and visited other countries to exchange best practices. From 2003-2010, he worked as director general of department of finance in Champasack province, in charge of financial management in the province. From 2010-2013, he was the vice governor of Champasack province and was also assigned by the Governor to be an adviser in the economic sector.

He has also led economic development work in many departments such as the Department of Public Works and Transport. He has advised on urban and rural infrastructure development in the Champasack province. He was the president of the steering committee for Pakse’s urban environmental improvements project, which was supported by an ADB loan and grant.

Bounnao Fongkhamdeng Deputy Director of Department of Public Works and Transport, Champasack Province

Mr Bounnao Fongkhamdeng was born on 13 May 1965 in Ban Kangkhong, Khong district, Champasack province in the south of Lao PDR. He studied architecture at Lao National University, Vientiane and obtained a Bachelor degree in Architecture in 1989. He received a Master Degree in Urban Environmental Management at Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok in 1999. He worked for the Institute of Public Works and Transport under the

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Ministry of Public Works and Transport from 1989 to 2006. During this period, he was in charge of urban master planning and surveying for the provincial municipalities and districts. He also worked on housing design and land readjustment including urban development plan. Bounnao moved to the Department of Housing and Urban Planning in 2006. In 2009, he joined the Department of Public Works and Transport (DPWT) in Champasack province. In his current position in DPWT, he supports the director general in overseeing housing, urban planning and management, water supply and urban environmental management.

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Maldives Malé City The central part of the city is on of Malé, while three more islands form part of the city. Although Malé is geographically located in Kaafu Atoll, administratively it is not considered part of it. A commercial harbor is located on Malé Island and serves as the heart of all commercial activities in the country. The central island is heavily urbanized, with the built-up area taking up essentially its entire landmass. Slightly less than one third of the nation's population lives in the capital city, and the population has increased from 20,000 people in 1987 to 100,000 people in 2006. Many, if not most, Maldivians and foreign workers in Maldives find themselves in occasional short term residence on the island since it is the only entry point to the nation and the center of all administration and bureaucracy.

The Island of Malé is the fifth most densely populated island in the world, and it is the 168th most populous island in the world. Since there is no surrounding countryside, all infrastructure has to be located in the city itself. Water is provided from desalinated ground water; the water works pump brackish water from 50-60m deep wells in the city and desalinates it using osmosis. Electric power is generated in the city using diesel generators. Sewage is pumped unprocessed into the sea. Solid waste is transported to nearby islands, where it is used to fill in lagoons. The airport was built in this way, and currently the Thilafushi lagoon is being filled in. Many government buildings and agencies are located on the waterfront. Malé International Airport is on adjacent Hulhule Island which includes a seaplane base for internal transportation. Several land reclamation projects have expanded the harbour.

Population size 105,000 Land area (km2) 5.798 Population density (per km2) 18,000

Mohamed Shihab Mayor, Malé City Council

Mr. Mohamed Shihab was elected as the Mayor of the Male’ City Council in February 2014. With over 30 years of work experience in both the public sector as well as the political arena, Mr. Shihab has held respected positions such as the Speaker of the People’s Majilis (legislature of the Maldives), Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Finance and Treasury and Advisor to the President on Political Affairs, President’s Office. He is also one of the longest serving members of the People’s Majilis, having been elected for twenty five consecutive years until 2009.

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Mr. Shihab also served as the Managing Director of the Maldives Post Limited and was the Chairperson of the Public Enterprises Monitoring and Evaluation Board, Ministry of Finance and Treasury. Mr. Shihab holds a Bachelor in Economics from James Cook University, Australia.

Shamau Shareef Councillor, Malé City Council

Shamau Shareef was elected to Malé City Council, the capital city of the Maldives, in February 2014. Shamau also represents the Council at the Board of Local Government Authority of Maldives. Currently, he is the Chair of the Bid Evaluation Committee, and sits on the Corporate Services Committee, Treasury /Economic Development Committee, and Sports/Recreation Committee of the Council. He is an active member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and is Vice Chair of the Rights Committee.

After getting involved with the country’s first and the largest political party, he actively participated in many campaigns and travelled across the country doing canvassing and listening to the people’s needs. Shamau was the Deputy Coordinator for Malé City during the 2013 Presidential Elections campaign. He went to the 2014 Elections, knowing the people’s needs and their vision for the city. Despite many challenges, Shamau is determined to bring about good changes, and is passionate about the future prosperity of the city. Prior to his political affiliation, he was the Founder and President of Youth for Equality (an NGO) and Director of Sanco Maldives Pvt. Ltd, a family owned business specializing in maritime operations.

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Myanmar Mandalay is the second largest city and the capital of the central dry region. It is famous as the capital of culture and Buddhist religion. As the second largest city, Mandalay has a total population of 1.46 million and is situated on the crossroad of routes linking Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam to India and is also situated on the linking route between the People’s Republic of China and the Andaman Sea.

Mandalay has experienced rapid growth of 3 percent per annum since 1990. Mandalay is an ancient city established by King Mindone in 1857 as a new capital city for the kingdom of Ava. The original site was determined by religious considerations and had a total land area of 66 km2, consisting of a 144 square-block grid with a 16 square-block area for the royal palace compound at the center. Although has 7 townships, Mandalay City Development Committee is responsible for the development of 6 townships (excluding township) with a total of 277,632 households.

The Union of Myanmar has placed Mandalay City Urban Services Improvement Project within the current lending programme with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project will help bring about improved urban environment and public health in the city.

Population size 1.46 million Land area (km2) 314.68 Population density (per km2) 4645.6

Han Soe Executive Committee Member, Mandalay City Development Committee

Prior to joining the Mandalay City Development Committee in 2014, Mr. Soe served in several academic positions – as Principal of the M.C.C Training Institute, Mandalay Campus (June 2012-April 2014), Principal of Myanmar Institute of Banking, Upper Myanmar Branch, Mandalay (Sept 2009-May 2012), Principal of Cooperative College, (2006-2009), Vice-Principal, Co-operative College, Sagaing and Principal, Co-operative Training School, Sagaing (1996-2005), and Chief Instructor/ Instructing Officer at the Central cooperative Training School, Phaunggyi, (1986-1993).

He was a Township Cooperative Officer in the , , (1971-1985). In addition, he has undertaken and

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24 conducted several foreign and local trainings. He has a Bachelor in Economics (Applied Statistics), M.P.A, D.P.M (RVB/BKK), C.S.M.E.P (Seoul) and C.I.G.P ().

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Nepal Birganj Birganj city is a leading commercial and industrial hub in the central Tarai region of Nepal, bordering India towards the south. The city is close to the capital city (Kathmandu) and the Birganj-Pathlaiya industrial corridor has emerged as a base for manufacturing and industrial activities (steel, tanning, plywood, rice mills, corrugated sheets etc.) as well as trade with India. The city is also known as primary gateway of Nepal.

Birganj city has a population of 135,905 (Census 2011) spread over an area of 23.37 km2, with a population density of 5,815 per km2 and population growth rate of 1.91 percent. The city is divided into 19 wards (ward no. 8 is the smallest; and ward no. 19 is the largest). The city has an elongated shape stretching 6 km in length and 4 km in breadth, located at an altitude of 78m.

Birganj city is also a major revenue collection point contributing more than 50% towards national revenue collection, because of its high export and import volume through its customs port. The incorporation of Sirsiya Dry port at Alau VDC and Ramgadhwa, Bishrampur in Birganj City has not only further enhanced the potential revenue capacity of Birganj, but also strengthened the economic foundation of Birganj, opening new avenues for resource mobilization.

Population size 135,905 (2011) Land area (km2) 23.37 Population density (per km2) 5,815

Bishnu Prasad Koirala Mayor/Executive Officer, Birganj Submetropolitan City Office

Mr Koirala assumed office in September 2014, prior to which he was the Executive officer/ mayor of Janakpur Municipality earlier this year (June- Sep 2014). He has worked as a Local Development officer in Achham District (Nov 2012-May 2014), and was the Chief Land Revenue officer at Saptri District (June 2012-Nov 2012). He has also worked as a Section Officer at the national library under the Ministry of Education (2007-2009), and as a Section Officer at the Ministry of General Administration (2006- 2007). He was also a Lecturer at Nobel College, Kathmandu (2001-2006).

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Nepal Butwal One of the oldest municipalities of Nepal, Butwal was established in 1960 and is located in the district of Rupandehi, Lumbini Zone, Western Development Region of Nepal. Two main national highways of Nepal, the East-West Highway and the Siddartha Highway (Siddarthanagar to the Indian border) intersect at Butwal. Currently, the municipality is spread over an area of about 69.28 km2 and is divided into 15 wards, with a population of about 118,462 people. The average population density is 1,710 persons per km2 and average household size is 4.32 (Census 2011).

The municipality area is predominantly covered by forests (~71.2%), with only 10% categorized as urban. Due to a combination of geo-political factors, historical reasons and its strategic location along the East West highway, Butwal has emerged as a major urban center in the western region of the country and has played a vital role in national economic development. However, the current urban development of the city is characterized by haphazard sub-division of plots as well as inadequate and unplanned infrastructure.

Population size 118,462 Land area (km2) 69.28 Population density (per km2) 1,710

Dhruba Bahadur Khadka Chief/Secretary of Municipality, Butwal Municipality

Since December 1994, he has worked in various ministries and departments undertaking different responsibilities, at the district and municipal levels. He was involved as a team member of the Local Self- Governance Drafting Act Recommendations committee (1997) and several other regulations drafting committees. The Local Self-Governance Act 1997 and some regulations have already been enacted.

He has attended several trainings and workshops abroad. He has also edited and published several articles, books and publications in field of management and development in Nepali. He also worked as a member secretary of the Municipal Executive Officers' Forum in Nepal, and is an ex- officious founder member of Sindhuli Technical Institute. He is currently the Executive Member of LDO Society Nepal and Member secretary of “Shrinkhala Society for Development". Dhruba Bahadur Khadka has a Master degree in Public Administration, Master degree in Arts, Bachelor of Education-B.Ed. and a Bachelor of Law-B.L.

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Suman Shrestha Senior Engineer and Planning Chief, Urban Planning Department, Butwal Municipality

Suman Shrestha has a M.Sc. in Construction Management. He is working as a senior engineer in Butwal Municipality office and has been the planning chief of urban planning department for the last 15 years. He participated in training on Urban Transportation Planning and Projects (Japan, 2008) and Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Asia Pacific Region Procedures (Malaysia). His responsibilities include the formulation of policies, strategies, guidelines, regulations and codes for urban development as well as office administration, urban infrastructure development and delivery of governance services.

Nepal Nepalgunj Nepalgunj Municipality is one of the four cities situated in Banke District of Bheri zone in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. It is located approximately 510 km west of Kathmandu by road. The city lies at an average altitude of 165 m. Nepalgunj Municipality covers an area of 12.51 km2 and is divided into a total of 17 wards.

Nepalgunj Municipality is the leading industrial and business center of the Mid-Western Terai region of Nepal. By virtue of its proximity to the Indo- Nepal border, it functions as an outlet for Nepalese exports and an inlet for imports. Nepalgunj Municipality has a good road network, although road conditions are poor. Located on the flat land of Terai, Nepalgunj suffers from chronic water-logging problems. The construction of the drainage system, poor maintenance of drainage facilities, roads and lanes are made worse by solid waste dumping. Only 42% of the population has effective access to the drainage system. The municipality also has 3 parks and 1 mini-zoo (Mahendra Park).

Population size 72,503 Land area (km2) 12.51 Population density (per km2) 5,800 Lok Bahadur Sunar Mayor/Executive Officer, Nepalgunj Municipality

He started his career in February 1989, after completing the Public Service Commission exam for the post of a non-gazetted class three officer. He worked in the District Administration Office (DAO) for seven years. In 1995, he was promoted to non gazetted class first officer in the DAO. After South-South City Leaders’ Forum 2014

28 serving seven years in the administration office, he was promoted to gazetted class three in 2003. He has experience in executing administrative projects in different districts of Nepal. He also worked as a Chief District Administrator, a key administrative position. In 2011, he completed an open competition exam of the Public Service Commission for the post of gazetted class two officer. He then served as the principal of a cooperative training center. After serving for one year at the center, he was transferred to this present post of Mayor and executive officer of Nepalgunj municipality. In the past two and half years, he has developed rich experience as an administrator and political leader (as mayor).

Deepak Shrestha Project Manager (SDE), Integrated Urban Development Project, Nepalgunj Municipality

After completing his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Minsk Belarus, Deepak took on a government job after completing the Public Service Commission exam (gazetted class three, Engineer). He served in different districts as an engineer and as Member Secretary of various Town Development Committees, and prepared Integrated Action Plans for different municipalities. In 2007, he was promoted to class second as Senior Divisional Engineer. He also completed his Msc in Urban Planning from TU, Nepal. He has provided guidance to municipalities on strategic planning, trained municipal staff, prepared periodic plans for Banepa, Panauti, and Dhulikhel municipalities, and conducted national-level workshop for mayors/executives officers of municipalities. Deepak has also worked as a coordinator for local implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since March 2012, Deepak has been the Project Manager for the ADB-supported Integrated Urban Development Project, under the Project Implementation Unit of Nepalgunj Municipality. His responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the project team, contractors, consultants as well as quality control for design reviews, construction checks, and progress assessments .

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Nepal Dharan Dharan is a beautiful and multicultural town in eastern Nepal. It lies in the Sunsari District and Kosi Zone. It is also a major town of Nepal and a town of many different races and ethnic groups. The town of Dharan was established when a thick jungle was cleared for a small human settlement in 1890s. In 1902, the then Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher Rana established a small village at the foot of Vijayapur hillock and named it Chandranagar (now Purano Bajar). This settlement grew steadily to form this town over a course of time. It was declared a municipal town in 1960. However, the history of Vijayapur village dates back over 225 years. Loggers set up Dharans (wooden platforms to saw logs) in the thick jungle where the town of Dharan now stands, giving the town its name.

Home to many different races, castes, creeds and ethnic groups, Dharan is proud to be a center of education, health, tourism and trade. It is striving to become a model municipality in the eastern region, as well as in the whole of Nepal. The municipality has very active public participation in infrastructure development, e.g. in building schools, streets, extension of drinking water supply system and sewage management. A twenty-year plan and vision has been prepared by the local representatives. Policies, programs and budgets are guided by the long-term plan and vision. The municipality is working in close coordination with various government and non-government organizations. The municipality has played a pioneering role in many areas, such as street-based house-numbering, computer- based information systems and corporate accounting system.

Population size 135,905 (2011) Land area (km2) 23.37 Population density (per km2) 5,815

Raju Pokharel Project Manager, IUDP Project Implementation Unit, Dharan Municipality Office

He received a Bachelor in civil engineering (BE) from Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Lalitpur, Nepal in 1996, First division 74%; a Diploma in civil engineering from Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Lalitpur; Nepal in 1992, First division 75%.

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Pakistan Narowal District Narowal was established in 1991. Approximately 100 km away from the provincial capital, Narowal has Gurdaspur district (India) on the east and Amritsar district (India) on its southern side.

It has a rural agrarian economy with very small agricultural land holdings. The average land holding is approximately 1-2 hectare. Narowal district produces one of the best qualities of basmati rice in the world. Its industrial base is extremely thin as it has only a few rice husking mills and a ghee/oil mill. Most people depend on small businesses, services sector and general labour for their livelihood. There are 1,287 primary to higher secondary schools with an enrolment of 246,711 pupils. The adult literacy rate (10 year+) is 69% as compared to 59% for the province of Punjab. Its education ranking in the province is 26th out of 36. Narowal is also famous as the death place of Guru Nanak Ji who departed from this world on 23rd Assu, Samvat 1596 (22 September 1529). Thousands of pilgrims visit this holy place during the year.

Population size 1,645,432 Land area (km2) 3,236 Population density (per km2) 508

Najaf Iqbal Syed District Coordination Officer/District Administrator, District Government Narowal

Currently working as District Coordination Officer/District Administrator Narowal, his main responsibilities include planning and implementing the district government’s development strategies and also implementing government policies in all sectors such as education, health, social welfare, urban development etc. Before joining this post, he was working for USAID as an Aid Development Specialist. He has diverse experience working with the development sector as well as the public sector for over 20 years. Governance, education and agriculture are his key areas of interest in development.

Most of his professional experience comprises of working on projects in rural development, poverty alleviation, livestock, environment, agriculture, education and governance. He has served for more than ten years as project lead in and outside with national and international organizations such as USAID, ADB funded projects, World Bank, CSIRO and UNDP. He attained a BS Engineering degree from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore and later completed his

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Master’s degree in Business Administration in Finance from the University of the Punjab Lahore. Later he proceeded to Australia where he not only completed his postgraduate diploma in computing studies but also taught at the university of Canberra, Australia and CSIRO.

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People’s Republic of China

Guangzhou Guangzhou, also known as Sui, is renowned as the Ram City and the Flower City as well as a thousand-year commercial hub. It is the provincial capital of Guangdong, one of China’s five national central cities, a gateway and a world famous port. With a history of 2,227 years, Guangzhou is the center of Lingnan culture and the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. It has been the cradle of modern China, and stands at the forefront of China’s economic reform. It is the oldest port in China that has never been closed to foreign trade and the host city of the 16th Asian Games.

Guangzhou covers a total area of 7,434.4 km² and has under its jurisdiction 11 districts and 16 million people, of which 8.25 million are permanent residents. In 2013, Guangzhou’s GDP stood at 1.542 trillion yuan and has been the third highest in the country for 25 consecutive years. Of the Global 500 companies, 236 invest in Guangzhou, which is also host consulates of 49 countries.

Guangzhou is moving forward with the development strategy of new urbanization, following the guidelines put forward in the 18th CPC Congress, the 3rd plenary session of the CPC Central Committee and by President Xi. The development strategy promotes the optimization of one metropolitan area, the innovative development of two new districts and the expansion of three sub-centers, to build a livable and ecological city for citizens.

Population size 16 million Land area (km2) 7,434.4 (sub-provincial city) Population density (per km2) ~2,000

Ling Zhou Deputy Secretary General, Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government

Yimei Hua Division Chief, Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office

Hongrong Ren Protocol officer, Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office

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Philippines Angeles City Angeles is a first class highly-urbanized city located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines. When the US Military Bases were still in the country, the economy of Angeles relied heavily on the Clark Air Base. In 1992, the city was devastated by the eruption of Mt Pinatubo.

Now, Angeles City boasts of hundreds of hotels and restaurants offering international cuisines, and is now home to big malls, universal banks, hospitals, universities and colleges. It is also one of the fastest growing local economies since it is strategically located between two expressways, NLEX and SCTEX, and is the gateway to Clark Special Economic Zone and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Population size 326,336 (2010) Land area (km2) 60.27 Population density (per km2) 5.414

Edgardo Pamintuan Mayor, City Government of Angeles

He was elected as Mayor of Angeles city for the first time in 1992 and served his second term as Mayor after that (1995-1998). He again got re- elected as City mayor in 2010 and is currently serving his second term as Mayor, for the second time. He has been awarded the Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines award in 2014. Previously he has also served as a Development Champion for the Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region (2006-2010) and as the Presidential adviser for External Affairs (2004- 2010).

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Sri Lanka The city of Colombo has been the capital of since the 1970s and currently plays the role of the institutional and commercial hub of the country. It is located along the west coast of the country at a strategic location on the East-West sea trade route. Hence the city’s development from the colonial era has been largely centered on port-related activities. The city is home to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population.

The city is now transforming into a clean, green, world-class city with an environment conducive to attracting private sector mega projects to drive the country’s economy. The city has a well-placed road network linked to other major cities in the country and also enjoys most of the amenities associated with a modern city. As the capital of the country for many years, Colombo has the widest coverage of electricity, water, transport, telecommunication, sewerage, solid waste management etc. of considerably good standard. The city administration is by far Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest local government body. The Colombo Municipal Council is governed by a Mayor and a Council elected once in five years.

640,000 (residential) Population size 500,000 (floating) Land area (km2) 37 Population density (per km2) 17,297

Ahamed Jamaldeen Mohamed Muzammil , Colombo Municipal Council

Having completed his education at Zahira College, Colombo, A.J.M. Muzammil entered politics at a very young age. He spearheaded numerous political campaigns under many past presidents of the UNP (Sri Lanka’s main opposition party) such as late J.R. Jayawardane and . He was elected to the Western Provincial Council in 2004 and 2009 and contested the 2010 Parliamentary Election.

He won the seat as UNP’s mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council Election held in October 2011. In addition to infrastructure developments and city beautification activities, he has also initiated projects for the betterment of society. Medical clinics and maternity homes have been improved and provide free health care. Community centers and sports centers are being upgraded to provide better facilities. Old public toilets have been demolished and have been constructed. New houses are being built to accommodate the underserved segments of the populations. His office remains open with easy access to the public every day of the week. South-South City Leaders’ Forum 2014

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Mohamad Ibrahim Mohamad Salim Director Engineering (Drainage and Water Supply), Colombo Municipal Council

As Director Engineering since 2011, Mr. Salim is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the storm water network, sewer network and 14 pumping stations. From 1996 to 2011, he was Deputy Director Engineering (Construction) where he was in charge of contract administration of projects outsourced by Colombo Municipal Council. He has also worked as Regional Engineer at Polonnaruwa District Development Council.

Sri Lanka Kurunegala The city of Kurunegala is situated in the most central part of the Sri Lanka. Due to its geographical location, it is an economic hub connected to the north, northern central and east of the country, with all the main access routes running through the city.

The average daily turnover population is more than 200,000 coming into city for various services. The city population of 30,000 is spread over an area of 13.1 km2 with a population density of 2,300 per km2. Most of the land and buildings have been developed for commercial and office use. The city has a beautiful large rock formation at the center of town that attracts tourists to the city. A natural lake in the city gives additional beauty to the city. There is a main hospital and 13 major schools in the city providing free health care services and educational facilities to more than 3 million people in the surrounding areas. The city has also started several major projects to improve the living standards and economic status of its citizens.

Population size 30,000 Land area (km2) 13.1 Population density (per km2) 2,300

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Anuradha Gamini Peramunage Mayor, Municipal Council, Kurunegala

He has served thirteen years as a Council member, two years as Deputy Mayor and was elected as Mayor of Kurunegala in 2011. He is the chairman of numerous committees in the council, such as the standing committee on finance and law, traffic advisory Committee, environment and technical committee, advisory committee for town development, disaster management committee etc.

Under his executive leadership, notable projects that have been implemented include a project for plastic and polythene recycling and a composting and night soil Treatment plant. A mass urban development project will also be implemented with the Urban Development Authority, Provincial Council-NWP and the Road Development Authority. He has previously worked as Assistant Director at the Road Passenger Transport Authority-NWP. In addition to being a mayor, he is an entrepreneur.

Dr. Chandana Pushpalal Gallage Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, Municipal Council, Kurunegala

Dr Chandana Gallage obtained his MBBS degree in 1993, and has worked as a public health medical officer for 15 years. He served as District Maternal and Child health coordinator until 2011. In 2012, he was appointed as chief medical officer in Municipal Council, Kurunegala. From 2008 worked with UNFPA Sri Lanka branch on gender base violence prevention in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. He serves as the technical advisor on environmental health, maternal and child health, school health, control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and other public health issues.

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Uzbekistan Fergana Fergana city was founded in 1877. The population of our city is 266,183, comprising of 188,799 Russians, 29,447 Tadjiks, 7,768 Kirgiz and 35,104 people of other nationalities. According to the Presidential decree (PR 1641) on “Reconstruction of the Fergana city”, the city has reconstructed all its streets, parks and squares. A new palace of arts, a modern stadium, a modern sport complex with bath rooms and facilities/conveniences as well as many musical fountains have also been built. The city’s irrigation system has been upgraded. A loan from Asian Development Bank has supported the reconstruction of the water supply and urban sewerage system; the water pumping station has been renewed and new water pipelines (8.1 km and 46.9 km) have been built.

There are Higher Education Institutions such as Fergana State Pedagogical University, Fergana branch of the Tashkent Information Technology Institute and Polytechnic Institute with more than 13,000 students. There are 19 colleges with a total of 23,900 students, and 42 secondary schools with 34,700 pupils. The city has 4 hospitals and 10 ambulances. Hotels, flats and detached houses have also been built. We have tried to build an inclusive city like Tashkent, Samarkand – to expand possibilities for our people.

Population size 266,183 Land area (km2) 70 Population density (per km2) 3,802

Gaybulla Yadgarovich Djahanov First Deputy Mayor of communal utilities and capital construction of the Fergana city, Fergana region/Fergana city Government

He is the first deputy mayor of Fergana City since 2012. Prior to this, he served as the Chief of Fergana SUVOKAVA (a water supply company) from 2011- 2012. He studied at Fergana Technical Institute.

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Uzbekistan Tashkent Capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent is a beautiful metropolis with a modern elegance characteristic of many world capitals. It is located in the northeastern part of the country, in the valley of the Chirchik River, at an altitude of 440-480 m above sea level. The climate is temperate continental. To the north-east of Tashkent are the spurs of the Tian Shan. Tashkent is home to over 2.4 million people of different nationalities.

The city has existed for over 2,200 years. During this time it has transformed from an ancient village to a large city in Central Asia. The city has an extensive public transport network of bus routes, trolleybuses, trams and taxis. The subway system in Tashkent has operated since 1977. The city has two railway stations and an airport. Tashkent has many scientific, educational and cultural organizations. There are 21 high schools, 11 theaters (including the Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet) and 22 museums. The town has architectural historical monuments, such as the mausoleum Sheikhantaur (15th century) and Kaffal Shashi, Barak- Khan and Kukeldash (16th century). The Tashkent TV Tower – the tallest building (375m) in Central Asia and 11th tallest TV tower in the world – has become a major tourist attraction. The city harmoniously combines medieval buildings with European architecture.

Population size 2,357,400 Land area (km2) 334.98 Population density (per km2) 7,037.44

Nazimjon Madaminovich Sabirov Head of Finance Department, Tashkent city Mayor’s Office

He is in charge of the supervision of improvement and regulation budgets of the local budgets of districts and cities; management of budgetary and extra-budgetary funds; and financial management of establishments funded by local budgets and Tashkent. He also oversees tariff regulation for consumer markets and services as well as the regulation of natural monopolies and monopolistic enterprises. He is also in charge of forecasting expenses for the state budget and monitoring of its execution. He has five years of supervisory experience.

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Viet Nam Hue The Province of Thua Thien Hue is located in Central Viet Nam; it is on East-West economic corridor connecting the province with Lao PDR, Thailand and Myanmar. The city of Hue is the capital city and also the most developed urban center in the province, whereas most other districts are peri-urban areas. Of the ancient capitals in Viet Nam, the city of Hue is famous for two world cultural heritage treasures. These include the tangible treasure – a complex of monarchic architecture, and the intangible treasure – Nha Nhac (royal court music). Thua Thien Hue province also has rich resources and diversified topography, which creates advantages for the province’s socio-economic development.

The province has set a target by 2020 to become an urban city with “heritage, culture, geology, landscape and environmental-friendliness”. The province focuses on becoming an attractive destination for domestic and foreign visitors, and a leading tourism and service center in the central region.

350,000 (Hue City) Population size 1.1 million (Thua Thien Province) 71.7 (Hue City) Land area (km2) 5,033.2 (Thua Thien Province) 4,587.4 (Hue City) Population density (per km2) 224.1 (Thua Thien Province)

Truyen Thi Thu Duong Deputy Head, General Division, Thua Thien Hue Department Of Planning and Investment

She is responsible for coordinating with consultant organizations to work on the provincial socio-economic development master plan, general master plan for Hue city, and reviewing the socio-economic development master plans at the district level. She is also responsible for proposing provincial annual and five-year socio-economic development plans, and reporting on the implementation status. She also assesses specific plans related to urbanization and environment, such as regional master plan of the province, regional master plan of Central Viet Nam, marine and lagoon economic development plan in Tam Giang-Cau Hai region, climate change adaptation strategy, etc. She also coordinates with other divisions to assess sector master plans for tourism, industry, agriculture, etc. She also works on establishing and monitoring the provincial plan for improving on the Provincial Competition Index (PCI).

She also currently serves as a counselor member supporting leaders in putting forth policies and strategies for provincial and national South-South City Leaders’ Forum 2014

40 development. She also served as leader of the Youth Association of the Department until 2010.

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Calvin Chua Architect and Coordinator of Asia Pacific projects, Fundacion Metropoli

Calvin graduated from the Architectural Association in the United Kingdom and has worked for various award winning design practices in Europe and Asia. Being active in the educational and research field, Calvin has been a visiting tutor at the Architectural Association and Istanbul Bilgi University, and writes on urban issues for various journals including East Asia Forum and Singapore Architect. Calvin has won several awards for his works, which have been exhibited globally. In 2013, Calvin was selected by the British Council as one of five emerging architects for a design and planning residency in Qatar. In addition, he is also an Associate of Choson Exchange, a non-profit focusing on economic development in DPRK and has conducted urban development workshops for local policy makers.

John Cann Asia Director for Microsoft’s Strategic Alliances Group

He is responsible for overseeing and managing the firm’s relationships with multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, governments, partners, and beneficiaries on projects throughout the region. Mr. Cann has more than 24 years of experience designing and implementing information technology solutions in some of the most difficult environments in the world. Mr. Cann joined Microsoft after two decades of management and technology consulting in the public and private sectors, and in international foreign assistance markets. Mr. Cann holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Virginia, and a Masters in International Business and Commerce Policy from George Mason University in the United States.

South-South City Leaders’ Forum 2014