Saudi Gazette report

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Saudi delegation, led by Fahd Al-Rasheed, advisor to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and head of the Saudi delegation to the Urban Communities Engagement Group, participated in a number of dialogue sessions during the 7th U20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

During a keynote session titled “Empowering cities in their journey to development,” Al-Rasheed highlighted the methodology adopted by Saudi Arabia in the field of urban development.

He noted that the Kingdom has embraced comprehensive strategies for urban development and governance, contributing to enhanced management effectiveness and the achievement of its development goals.

He emphasized that globally, forums such as the Urban Communities Engagement Initiative play a pivotal role in providing tools like funding sources to support city leaders in implementing their projects.

He added that Saudi Arabia strongly supports efforts to create innovative financial tools for cities and restructure multilateral development banks to facilitate the development of financial support mechanisms for urban areas.

Al-Rasheed also took part in the launch of the first book issued by the U20 Urban Communities Engagement Group, featuring insights and ideas from leading global thinkers and leaders in urban development.

His article, titled “Enlightened Leadership for Cities: A New Model for a Sustainable Urban Future,” explored the importance of training and developing city leaders to address future challenges.

In his article, Al-Rasheed argued that urban development requires a clear governance framework and strategic planning focused on competitive advantages.

While many institutions offer training in fields such as urban planning, civil engineering, and public administration, he highlighted the scarcity of specialized programs for city leaders that address the technical, social, and economic aspects of their roles comprehensively.

He noted that with the number of cities housing one million or more residents projected to rise from 700 to 1,600 by 2080, around two million urban leadership professionals will require specialized training over the next 35 years to meet the growing demand for qualified city leaders.

“Urban development plans must include mechanisms to address pressing issues such as poverty and social inclusion,” Al-Rasheed said. “Equally important is preparing the next generation of city leaders to confront ongoing challenges faced by cities worldwide.”

The summit concluded with a closed session for U20 city leaders, attended by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil.