Wakatobi To Host Asia-Pacific Local Governments' Conference

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Wakatobi district, located in Southeast Sulawesi province, will host the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG Asia-Pacific) Conference scheduled to be held on September 5-7, 2015, and will be inaugurated by President Joko Widodo.

"This conference addresses the urban issues we may face in the future. One of the major agendas of the United Nations (UN) is Habitat or New Urban Habitat," Secretary General of UCLG Asia-Pacific Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi stated here, Tuesday (September 1).

The UN will hold an international Habitat III conference themed "Housing and Sustainable Urban Development" in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016..

Habitat III will review the world's commitment on achieving sustainable urban development by applying the New Urban Agenda concept. The conference will also review the results of Habitat II, which was held in Turkey, in 1996.

"At the Habitat II Conference in Turkey in 1996, the UN recognized the role of the local administrations in bringing about local development," she affirmed.

The UCLG Asia-Pacific Conference to be held in Wakatobi will determine the urban development agenda for the next two decades.

"It will be decided whether we are happy with the current agenda. Development is supposed to be based on humanity," Bernadia emphasized.

She pointed out that there are several dormant urban development agendas as a result of the local administration's inability to adopt a firm approach and the roles of the private sector.

"The results of the UCLG Asia-Pacific Conference will be delivered during the Habitat III meeting in Ecuador," she added.

Head of Administration of Wakatobi Hugua stated that the UCLG Asia-Pacific Conference in Wakatobi will put forth a recommendation proposed by the local administrations in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The Wakatobi Document will be the voice of regional autonomy and will be delivered during the Habitat III assembly in Ecuador," Hugua said.

The conference will be attended by several heads of local administrations from across the regions, including the UN officials and educational institutions. (WDY)