The conference debated the effects of the recent, global financial crisis on metropolitan regions’ societies and economies, as well as the local solutions that can be brought. The event presented and discussed several issues such as the questioning of ruling models of metropolitan development, the relevancy of green industries and ecological economy, and the role of local governments vis-à-vis the crisis. Many international experts and decision makers were invited to help draw up a current situation’s overview and propose innovative solutions.

On October 13, the Global Fund for Cities Development was presented in public for the first time. The Fund is an innovative financial tool to pool the know-how and resources of local authorities and the implementation of more effective urban policies that can provide southern cities with new means of access to financing for economic-development, urban-infrastructure and housing programs.