CityNet convened its 44th Executive Committee (ExCom) Meeting on 18 November in Iloilo City, Philippines, under the theme “Living the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Shared Future for All”—an especially timely focus, as evidenced by typhoons occurring outside their usual season in the Philippines. The three-day event was hosted by Executive Committee member Iloilo City, led by Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.The 44th Session of the ExCom Meeting, a cornerstone of CityNet’s annual agenda, served as a platform to review achievements and set strategic plans for the future.
The meeting session brought together 107 participants representing 45 cities and organizations across 14 countries. Attendees included CityNet Executive Committee Members, National Chapter hosts, Cluster leads, city leaders, partners, and the Secretariat. Together, they reflected on the network’s achievements in 2024 and outlined a forward-looking agenda for 2025.
Reports presented during the meeting showcased significant strides in capacity building and member engagement over the past year. Notable workshops and events included: “Leaving No One Behind When Localising SDGs” in June; the 44th KLRTC Training Session in August on Smart Cities and Low-Carbon Development in Kuala Lumpur, Vice President City; the“Going Together with Socially Neglected Forum” hosted by President Cit Seoul Metropolitan Government in June; and Asia Smart City Conference hosted by President Emeritus Yokohama City. These initiatives and plans by Secretariat and Network members, designed to equip cities with tools to foster inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability, were celebrated by participants, who expressed optimism for the ambitious plans ahead.
Several ExCom members commended CityNet Secretariat’s accomplishments and future plans:
- Mr. Jai Geun Lim from Seoul Metropolitan Government, the President City, remarked he was impressed by the “remarkable achievements this year and ambitious plans for 2025.”
- Mr. Ravi Guru from the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) stated, “Congratulations to CityNet on its wonderful programme work, bringing impactful benefits to all members.”
- Compliments echoed from Mr. Kao Chung from International Climate Development Institute (ICDI) who lauded Secretariat’s contributions, which received widespread recognition during the meeting.
New Members Joined
A key highlight of the meeting was the induction of seven new associate members, further expanding CityNet’s global footprint:
- Cities: Braga (Portugal), Granada (Spain), and Matosinhos (Portugal)
- Organisations: CarbonCare InnoLab Limited (Hong Kong), Almaty Development Centre (Kazakhstan), Habitat Forum, India (INHAF) (India), and High-Level Committee on Urban Planning (HLC-Gujarat) (India)
MOU Signed with Global Parliament of Mayors and Habitat for Humanity International.
Two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were formalised during the meeting, one with Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) and another with Habitat for Humanity International. Click here to read more.
45th ExCom Host: Denpasar
As the curtains close on 44th ExCom in Iloilo, the focus now shifts to next year’s 45th ExCom which will be hosted by Denpasar City, Indonesia. With new partnerships, an expanding network, and an ambitious roadmap for the coming year, CityNet looks forward to reinforcing its role as a beacon for urban collaboration in Asia Pacific and across the globe.
