Local governments are engines of growth and have a leading role in local economic development, according to a CLGF regional symposium in Colombo this week.

Delegates at the symposium described how local government is responsible for many of the key services - such as infrastructure, licensing, market development and basic services - necessary for effective local economic development (LED).

The CLGF symposium on promoting regional cooperation and regional development, South Asia was held in Colombo on 29-30 September, hosted by the Ministry of Local Government, Sri Lanka.

Participants made a number of recommendations on how local government can strengthen its LED role including through better relationships with the private sector and providing an enabling environment, as well as support from national government and ensuring that all sectors of the community, including traditionally marginalised group, are empowered.

Participants also had a strong commitment to working together at regional level to exchange local government information and good practice and agreed to form a South Asia Forum of Local Government.

Hon ALM Athaullah, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Sri Lanka, who opened the symposium said, “Since local governments lead to socio-economic transformation at grass roots level, they are considered the engines of human growth.”

CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright said, “Though LED is not a term widely used in South Asia, in many cases local government is delivering these services and contributing to delivering national schemes for economic growth and poverty reduction but needs extra capacity and related resources to strengthen its role in delivering LED.”

Other speakers included CLGF Board member Mayor Hilmy, Chair of the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities, and Hon Col (rtd) Mohamed Nazim, President of the Local Government Authority, Maldives.

CLGF South Asia Symposium Final Recommendations