August 04, 2008
The leading experts will discuss the aspects of urban development
On September, 6-7, within the framework of the 5th Baikal Economic Forum, there will be an international workshop titled 'Stable development of big cities and agglomerations'. Leading experts in town-planning from Russia and other countries will discuss the aspects of development of the Irkutsk Oblast industrial cities, special tourist economic zones, and the creation of Irkutsk agglomeration.
Among the participants of the event will be: representatives of the French AREP Ville project group Andreas Heim and Martial Bayard; professor of architecture and urban development of Milan Polytechnic University Massimo Tadi (Italy); representatives of the St. Petersburg Russian Research and Project Institute of Urban Development, Geography Institute of the Siberia Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk department of the Union of Architects of Russia, Road Research and Project Institute, Irkutsk State Institute, Irkutsk State Technical University, as well as specialists from economic and environmental departments of the Irkutsk Oblast and municipal administrations.
Among the topics to be discussed there will be: ‘Urban environment and the quality of life as factors of attracting population', 'Stable development of transport and municipal services', ‘Searching for balance between industrial and postindustrial development'. 'A city brand and its use in boosting investment attractiveness'. It is planned to find some solutions in the course of discussion. The problems to be solved are: 'A balanced development of Irkutsk as a historic, educational and cultural center of Eastern Siberia and industrial cities of Shelekhov, Angarsk, and Usolie-Sibirskoye', ‘Interconnections between the Irkutsk agglomeration and the special economic zone of tourist and recreation type at Baikal’, ‘Using the Baikal brand in the projects of Irkutsk agglomeration development’, ‘Environmental issues of the Irkutsk agglomeration development’, ’Transport and Housing: analysis and solutions’.
The workshop is organized by the Regional Development Foundation of the Irkutsk Region and the Interregional Institute of Social Sciences with the Irkutsk State University. The workshop is included in the draft plan of the 5th Baikal Economic Forum events. It is planned that the integral report of international experts will become part of the second Plenary Session and the ‘Development of Natural Agglomerations’ Round Table.
Nowadays, the only way of keeping people in the cities is comfortable and well-developed urban environment and high quality of life, said Alexei Kozmin, the president of the Regional Development Foundation of Irkutsk Oblast. This increases the requirements for the urban environment and makes urban development one of the most important topics in Russia. According to forecasts, by 2050 95% of Russians will be living in the cities. This topic is discussed at all the international forums and congresses. As competition for staff between the cities is growing, comfortable urban environment has become an important competitive advantage, Kozmin argues.
