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International Conference on City Competitiveness
3-4 March 2005
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

This conference was a unique forum for government leaders, policy makers and practitioners to explore the key issues related to city competitiveness.  National and local government representatives, mayors and practitioners had an unprecedented opportunity to discuss the topical issues faced by cities in their efforts to develop the best economic and social conditions to attract skills and investment.

The format for this two-day event consisted of five thematic sessions each introduced by a distinguished expert speaker followed by a panel discussion and one final plenary session. 

• Session 1 focused on the macroeconomic aspects of city competitiveness, adressing the challenges raised by globalisation for city competitiveness.
• The Canary Islands Network featured as a case study example of leveraging globalization through a regional hub strategy.
• Session 2 focused on promoting diversification in metropolitan areas through cluster-based urban development.
• Session 3 addressed specialisation and networking in medium-sized cities.
• Session 4 covered the impact of tertiary education on urban development.
• Session 5 addressed the role of metropolitan economic development agencies.
• The final plenary session  was dedicated to identifying the most effective central government policy strategies for supporting competitiveness in metropolitan areas.

Key speakers included José Luis Mendez Romeu, Spanish Secretary of State Territorial Organization; Filippo Penati, President of the Milan Province;  Mats Hellström, Governor of Stockholm region, Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul; Marco Romagnoli, Mayor of Prato, Italy; Joorst Van Iersel, European Economic and Social Committee; Shoichi Ando, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan;  Wim J. Deetman, Mayor of the Hague; Joan Trullén Thomàs Spanish Vice-Minister of Industry; Greg Clark, London Development Agency; Graeme Reid, Johannesburg Development Agency; Carl Hum, New York City; Eero Holstilla, President Helsinki Culminatum.