di Eng. Ahmad Hamad Al-Subih, Arab Towns Organization Secretary General

We live today at a time where development experts stress that the urgent need for change and for the adoption of plans, programs and strategies to catch up with the rapid changes and developments taking place around us, to ensure comprehensive sustainability and to achieve the construct of future cities.Since its establishment in 1967 in Kuwait, the Aran Towns Organization (ATO) has been keen to put into effect and implement programs and strategies that will achieve sustainable cities, especially that the ATO is linked to a wide network of regional and international partnerships in accordance with its vision and goals given that partnership is a key factor for action and for meeting challenges and changes. The partnership between the of ArabTowns Organization and Coppem for 20 years is a realistic translation of our belief in the importance of joint action, especially that we agree on a number of visions and goals. Today we look forward to completing our cooperation with the meetings, activities and events related to the sustainable urban development process in our region with a number of priorities, including: improving living, eradicating poverty, promoting social justice and equality, ensuring environmental sustainability, providing services, achieving sustainable development, regional integration and resilience and responding to crises and conflicts, where they become an opportunity and accessible to all, our cities have access to basic services, especially as the escalating challenges of the world’s cities require commitment and collective action at the local, regional and global levels in order for cities to remain a centerof growth and prosperity and to be safe and sustainable.