Local government stakeholders from across South Asia are meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, today (29 Sepetmber) to look at good practice on approaches to local economic development and strengthen the regional network so that local governments can boost their voice in the region.

The regional symposium – Promoting regional cooperation and local economic development, South Asia – is run by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) in partnership with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils and the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities (FSLGA).
It will bring together ministers of local government, mayors, local government leaders, senior officials, academics and private sector representatives from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan to:

• share knowledge and experiences of the role of local government in local economic development and identify good practice on how local government can foster more effective LED;
• strengthen regional networks and look at how local government can get its voice heard more strategically in the region, including with SAARC;
• plan future action for CLGF’s project in the region to ensure that it responds to the needs of local government.
• The symposium will be opened by Hon A M L Athaullah, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Sri Lanka, and addressed by CLGF Board member Mayor Hilmy, Chairperson of the FSLGA.

Arriving in Colombo for the event, CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright said:
“South Asia is a region with many emerging economies and local government has an important role in supporting and implementing local economic development. Through this event we hope to be able to share good practice and ensure our programme in the region focuses on areas where local government most needs support and build on the many opportunities that exist.”

“We hope that be bringing local governments and local government ministries in the region together, we can strengthen our voice in the region to help local government play a full and active part in sustainable development.”

CLGF’s South Asia Regional Programme is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The Colombo symposium builds on the outcomes of the 2012 CLGF South Asia regional meeting and a series of technical meetings to set goals for the programme across the region, and also follows CLGF’s major international conference on local economic development in Cardiff in 2011.

Symposium programme