The Fourth Moscow Urban Forum: Growth Catalysts and Best Practices of the World's Cities
Moscow, 11 December 2014 – The Fourth Moscow Urban Forum "Drivers of City Development" is
beginning its work. On 11-12 December 2014, Manezh Central Exhibition Hall will bring together the
world's leading experts in urbanism, representatives of government and business, and the mayors
of Russian and foreign cities. The Forum will take an in-depth look at the issues of the global,
Russian, and Moscow agenda, and will consider a wide range of relevant issues and problems of
modern urbanism.
Cities Are Ready to Cooperate and Share Their Experiences
The role of major cities in the global arena and their importance for the world economy are
continuously increasing. On all continents, megacities face similar problems – growing population,
increasing density of construction development and road traffic, implementation of high-tech
solutions, and development of new urban planning and management practices that meet the
challenges of today's world. It is obvious that the contribution of major cities to the development
of national economies is increasing year by year.
Despite the complex geopolitical situation and controversial international environment that has
developed in 2014, the city administrations are eager to share their experiences and build
cooperative relationships. The municipalities are focusing their efforts on practical solutions, as they
are responsible for creating a comfortable environment for the lives, work, and recreation of their
residents, and are taking measures aimed at developing the city economy and the economy as a
whole.
Politics have no direct influence on the partnerships between the cities. This is evidenced by the
fact that this year's Moscow Urban Forum will welcome 12 city mayors from various countries,
including Roland Ries (Strasbourg), Teo Ser Luck (Singapore), Ron Huldai (Tel Aviv), İbrahim Melih
Gökçek (Ankara), Sukhumbhand Paribatra (Bangkok), István Tarlós (Budapest), Snehal Ambekar
(Mumbai), Nils Ušakovs (Riga), and others. In addition, the Forum will be attended by the heads of
city administrations and delegations from many Russian cities, including Yekaterinburg, Kazan,
Rostov-on-Don, Vladivostok, Ufa, other Russian million-inhabitant cities, and regional centres.
"For the fourth time, the Moscow Urban Forum brings together in the same place the leading
experts on urban policies, entrepreneurs, government officials, scientists specialising in urban
planning, and active members of urban communities from different countries to discuss the most
interesting practices and case studies, share their experiences, and elaborate new strategies for city
development. The experience of Moscow, our ideas that have already been implemented or will be
implemented in the coming years, have become a part of the global urban experience. We have a
story to tell. And there are good things that can be learned from our experience. In turn, Moscow is
always open to innovative solutions, innovations aimed at improving the lives of citizens and
developing the economic potential of the capital city. The Moscow Urban Forum is an important link
between the people who generate and make decisions and define vectors of development for the
future. The range of topics which have been submitted for discussion at the Forum this year have
exceptional importance and relevance not only for Moscow, but also for other megacities in the
world, and, of course, for all major cities in Russia", said Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin,
Chairman of the Supervisory Council of the Moscow Urban Forum.
This year the research programme of the Forum has been significantly expanded. A number of
large-scale expert reviews and rankings have been prepared specifically for this event, including the
international study "Global Cities and Nation States: A New Course for Partnership in the 21st
Century"; a comparative analysis of various approaches to the planning and organisation of spaces,
"Strategic Master Plan. A Tool for Managing the Future"; and the "New Moscow" study on the
creation of a full-fledged urban environment in the territories recently attached to Moscow City. The
results of the study "Struggle for Citizens: Human Potential and Urban Environment" will be
presented at the Russian Cities Conference. For the second time, PricewaterhouseCoopers will
present its special review, "From Moscow to Sao Paulo: A Study of Seven Major Cities in Emerging
Economies", at the Forum.
Partner City and Other Innovations at the Forum
The Fourth Moscow Urban Forum will be held in a new format. This year's innovations include a
separate conference held as part of the overall agenda of the Forum entitled "Government and
Citizens: Technology for Cooperation". During several diverse discussion panels, experts will
discuss the role of online tools and technology platforms in improving the lives of city residents and
creating a comfortable urban environment. The discussions will be attended by world-renowned
experts such as Jeff Howe, who coined the term "crowdsourcing", Masayuki Hatta, founding
member of the Open Knowledge Foundation, Gunso Kim, Secretary General of WeGO and CIO of
Seoul Metropolitan Government, and others.
The Forum will present the Russian cities agenda for the first time. The "Human Potential as a
Driver of Russian Urban Development" conference will focus on key catalysts and engines for the
economic growth of cities in different Russian regions. The main idea of this conference is that the
investments in concrete structures must be replaced by investments in people.
ISOCARP, a global association of city and regional planners, has become a new International
Partner of the Forum in 2014, and a School for City Planners will be held as part of the Moscow
Urban Forum. 20 Russian and foreign experts, selected on a competitive basis, will develop and
submit their projects for the reconstruction of VDNKh, a permanent general-purpose trade show in
Moscow, which will be available for review at the Festival on 13 and 14 December.
"Singapore has been presented as foreign Partner City of the Forum for the first time this year. This
city-state, one of the most advanced urban agglomerations in the world, will present its best
practices and projects in the area of city development. All innovations of this year's Forum, the high
level of delegations, and the participation by mayors of the world's megacities ensure a productive,
useful dialogue, intensive exchange of views, ideas and experiences, intense discussions aimed at
finding new growth points and catalysts for city development, and enhancing their competitiveness.
I am convinced that the projects presented at the Forum by the Moscow Government, particularly
the results of the "Moskva River" Competition, will impress our foreign colleagues", said
Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Policy and Construction, Head of the
Executive Committee of the Moscow Urban Forum.
Festival
The impressive business programme of the Forum will be complemented by cultural events held as
part of the Forum's Festival. On 11 and 12 December, Manezh Central Exhibition Hall will be open
for free admission so that city residents can see the exhibitions of the Forum, listen to lectures by
leading urbanists or visit the screenings. On 13 December, participants will attend the Finals
of Scientific Battles, Urban Talks and Korobka, a special programme from Afisha.ru, the curator of
the Forum's cultural programme.
About the Moscow Urban Forum
The Moscow Urban Forum has been held annually since 2011. It is an international conference
dedicated to city development, architecture, economics, and strategic planning of cities.
The Forum is held under the auspices of the Moscow Government, with the participation of Sergey
Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow. The Urban Land Institute is the International Partner of the Forum.
The Programme Directorate of the Forum is represented by Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture
and Design.
Moscow Urban Forum is a platform for sharing experiences, where leaders of the largest cities in
Russia and the world have an opportunity to discuss pressing issues and projects with
representatives of the international expert community.
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