Reshaping Urban Development Policies in Growing Economies - The role of national and regional planning in inducing urban transformation

Changing urban geographies are driven mostly by rapid urbanization and excessive population growth. Such constant urban transformation influences decisions related to investments, infrastructure allocation, and job creation. Rapid urbanization and megacities were always presented as engines of economic growth, prosperity, and innovation, hence attracting the majority of resources and investments. As the process of urbanization unfolds it became evident that without proper multilevel regional planning, a growing number of people will continue to suffer from a reduced quality of life, induced regional disparities, and increased poverty gap in many cities.

The session discusses how urban policies can play a role in achieving a more sustainable and integrated urban development that guarantees a fair distribution of national assets and resources across different regions. The session presents diverse experiences from Egypt, Malaysia, Bahrain, Morocco, and Germany to highlight the role of national and regional planning in addressing urban disparities and inducing urban transformation that leaves no one behind.

The session will discuss the following:

· The relationship between urban planning and national development

· Balancing between new and existing cities

· Regional inequality and the process of national development.