Effective city to city collaboration modality to achieve SDG 11 and beyond: case of Cities Partnership Programme and Yokohama

Japan’s second largest city, Yokohama has faced various environmental issues resulting from rapid industrialization and growth of population during 60s to 80s. The city has managed to overcome the urban issues by conducting comprehensive six major strategic projects which consist of area development and trunk transportation infrastructure together with its citizens and private sector. As a result Yokohama turned itself into one of the most livable cities in Japan and its experiences are highly appreciated and awarded significant international award such as Special Mention at the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Forum in World Cities Summit 2014, as well as a City Prize in Smart City Expo World Congress in 2011.

Based on such experiences, Yokohama has been promoting international cooperation through CITYNET and the city launched innovative program named Y-PORT in 2011.

This program utilizes technologies of Yokohama-based companies along with the Know-hows of Yokohama city in order to pursue international cooperation and to create business opportunities at the same time.

Yokohama signed MOUs with 4 cities in South East Asia so far and is implementing projects such as solid waste management, water supply, green buildings and factories etc.

By participating in the dialogue at WUF9, we believe that we can be a part of the international community's efforts to pursue the new urban agenda by becoming a reference point in regards to comprehensive city management schemes and new modalities of city to city collaborations at local as well as private sector levels. The dialogue can be aimed at deepening the understandings of city to city collaboration and providing reference points to formulate new projects with best available technologies through public private partnership.