Amman, May 14 (Petra) – Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh concluded his participation in the Arab-European Cities Dialogue Forum held in Riyadh under the theme “City Partnerships for a Better Future.”
According to a statement issued by GAM on Wednesday, Shawarbeh emphasized during the City Leaders Forum the importance of strengthening partnerships between Arab and European cities to address shared challenges, particularly in digital transformation, climate change, urban mobility, and sustainability.
Shawarbeh also participated in a session of the “Mayors’ Meetings” series, organized by the Arab Urban Development Institute, which highlighted inspiring leadership experiences in urban management across Arab cities. He met with representatives of the Saudi Fund for Development to explore cooperation in urban development and infrastructure projects, especially in transportation and smart services, in coordination with both countries’ ministries of planning and international cooperation.
In separate meetings, Shawarbeh met with Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin and Vice President of the Italian Association of Municipalities, discussing twinning, local economic development, and urban planning and smart city management programs.
He also met with Maher Marwan, Governor of Damascus, to explore sharing Amman’s experience in strategic planning, urban development, and local governance, with potential support for rehabilitating urban infrastructure in Damascus.
He held talks with José Mart?nez-Almeida Navasqüés, Mayor of Madrid, discussing environmental sustainability, sustainable transportation systems, digital transformation, and potential for digital twinning between Amman and Madrid.
Discussions with Javier Rodr?guez of Barcelona’s city council focused on climate action planning, renewing cooperation in accessibility for persons with disabilities, Amman’s “Green City” strategy, crisis response, and urban data management.
Shawarbeh also met with Anas Almughairy, Director General of the Arab Urban Development Institute, to discuss urban studies, climate change, digital twinning, and enhancing Amman’s regional role in promoting sustainable urban transformation among Arab cities.
On the forum’s sidelines, GAM participated in side sessions, where Sultan Kharabsheh, Executive Director of ICT, spoke during a panel titled “Building Smart, Resilient, Inclusive Cities: Advancing Digital Transformation for Sustainability and Quality of Life.” He outlined Amman’s digital transformation journey, culminating in its designation as the “Arab Digital Capital for 2025,” a recognition of the city’s vision and comprehensive initiatives that made it the first government institution in the region to offer fully digital services since 2021.
The GAM delegation also included Ziad Abu Urabi, Deputy City Manager for Planning and Economic Development, and Najoud Abdel Jawad, Director of International Relations and Technical Support.
//Petra// AF
14/05/2025 23:01:59
