Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Washington, D.C. - January 27, 2010 -- Today, more than half of the world's population resides in cities, a number that's expected to rise to 70% by 2050. Cities are the economic development engine of the future, and as such, the US State Department would like to encourage American companies to participate in the UN's fifth World Urban Forum (WUF V), to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 22-26, 2010. Companies engaged in urban planning, sustainable architecture, IT, economic development, smart growth or similar industries are welcome to join the U.S. government, American NGOs, and others at WUF V as we work with our international partners to seek out ways to make urban growth environmentally sustainable, socially equitable, and economically valuable. WUF V is a premier international opportunity to discuss business applications, successes, and lessons learned with a diverse audience whose sole focus are to assist with the many challenges and opportunities presented by urban development on the global scale.
Potential opportunities for companies include participating in the official Business Caucus or Business Roundtable, hosting a booth to showcase new products, organizing a side event to highlight a particular innovation, and much more. At WUF V, the private sector will join national governments, civil society, and a host of local and national decisions-makers in discussing urban and housing issues around the world.
For more information on how your company can be involved, please contact Heidi Smith, Economic Officer, Western Hemisphere Affairs,
U.S. Department of State at SmithHJ@State.gov,
or visit www.unhabitat.org/wuf.