Local economic development and innovation
Participants
The core challenge is to have a competitive city/territory without competition between cities. This means cities with an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, business and investment (creation of decent jobs and sustainable activities) with minimum fiscal, labour, social and environmental norms. Sustainable development should be harmonious and human.
Cities must be attractive without competing with one another Antonio Aniesa Connectivity, mobility, technology and an enabling environment for economic activities and investments (entrepreneur labs and firms incubators, connection with research centres and universities, etc.) are necessary for cities to be competitive. The informal sector should be integrated through policy frameworks that support livelihoods for the urban poor and provide social and health insurance to all. Support should be given to endogenous development and to circular economies. Participants mentioned the following policies and practices:
Lorena Zarate President of the Habitat International Coalition. She has worked in close collaboration with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Deise Martins International Relations and Cooperation Director at the city of Canoas, Brazil.
• Industrial system upgrading for sustainability • Partnerships between private sector, university, civil society, media and local government • Social, labour and environmental charter to promote responsible and sustainable investment and business
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