TEHRAN – The fifth Iran smart city international exhibition and conference kicked off today in Tehran and will wrap up on Wednesday.

The event is being held concurrently with World Cities Day.

A smart city is the key to achieving a smart society and sustainable development. Transferring global experiences and exchanging knowledge and expertise can facilitate and accelerate the movement towards the creation of smart cities.

Supported by the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, the exhibition showcases the latest achievements of modern technologies in smart city development.

The conference focuses on different topics including smart economy, smart life, smart governance, smart environment, smart transport, and smart transformation.

The other main objectives of the event include improving the quality of urban and rural life, developing smart city markets, and becoming familiar with new concepts in smart designs and structures.

The event is serving as a platform to connect scientific and executive institutions, realize the economy of resistance in smart cities, explore the country’s construction challenges, and provide scientific and practical solutions. 

Concluding contracts with the private sector to develop transportation infrastructure and traffic in smart cities is another main goal of the conference.

World Cities Day

World Cities Day is celebrated annually on 31 October. It aims to create awareness of the role of urbanization in global sustainable development and social inclusion.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared the Day to promote interest in global urbanization and encourage cooperation among countries in addressing the challenges of urbanization and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

The Day takes place during Urban October, which the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) launched in 2014 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community on the New Urban Agenda (NUA), which highlights inclusive cities. Urbanization offers opportunities for new forms of social inclusion, including greater equality, access to services and new opportunities, and engagement and mobilization.

As cities around the world continue to grow, they are increasingly home to a new wave of young leaders committed to addressing the pressing issues of climate change. Youth are at the forefront of local action and innovation, playing a catalytic role in shaping sustainable urban futures.

World Cities Day 2024 will be observed under the theme ‘Youth climate changemakers: Catalyzing local action for urban sustainability’.

It is a call to action for youth and local governments to work hand-in-hand to address the climate crisis. 

With climate change intensifying urban challenges, particularly in rapidly growing cities, this year’s observance emphasizes the power of youth to lead in urban adaptation and climate resilience. 

By taking the lead, today’s youth can shape their cities to be inclusive, equitable, and environmentally sustainable for generations to come.

MT/MG