The fourth World Cities Congress İstanbul’19 that was organized between 13-15 March 2019 in Yenikapı Eurasia Exhibition and Art Center. The Congress, hosted by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, gathered more than 140 speakers from12 countries and 120 cities, under 9 sessions. The event provided a platform for the presentation of new technologies on the disaster, health, security, agriculture, and energy and many other areas.
On the first day of the Congress, Binali Yildirim candidate for the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank and the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mevlüt Uysal held the opening speeches afterward that Technology and Mobility sessions were held.
On the second day, the session “Smart for Sustainability”, which was moderated by Mehmet Duman, UCLG-MEWA Secretary-General, took place. Stating that population increase in the urban areas made necessary to develop technology-based solutions for the efficient use of resources, provision of accessible urban transportation and waste management, Secretary-General Duman emphasized the efforts of UCLG-MEWA towards inheriting more livable cities to the next generations. Souad Abdurrahim, the first women mayor of Tunisia, the capital of Tunisia; Sabha Sobhani, UNDP Global Private Sector Consultant who has significant experience in the development resource mobilization of the private sector; Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu, President of AFAD, prominent with his volunteer activities for the health and humanitarian aid; and Frans-Anton Vermast, Amsterdam Intelligent City Strategy Consultant and International Smart City Representative delivered their speeches on the basis of the concept of sustainability.
On the last day of the program; The Energy, Data, and Entrepreneurship sessions were held and the Congress ended following the 3rd Smart City Idea and Project Competition Award Ceremony.