Category: News from Asia & Australasia

IURC Showcases Global Urban Cooperation at EU Cities Forum 2025 in Kraków

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme proudly marked its successful participation at the EU Cities Forum 2025, held last week in Kraków, Poland. As one of the key platforms for dialogue on sustainable urban development in Europe, the Forum brought together city leaders, policy makers, and practitioners to advance the goals of the EU Urban Agenda and Green...

Extended Deadline for EU Cities and Regions: Apply to cooperate with Asia, Australasia, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America

Applications are now open for European cities and regions to join the IURC programme activities with Asia, Australia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Apply also to cooperate with North American cities and regions within the EUCG NA programme! Take this opportunity to become a global partner in shaping sustainable and innovative solutions for cities and regions. Why Join IURC? The...

Official Launch of the IURC Asia and Australasia Initiative Held at Expo 2025 Osaka (Hybrid Event)

Group pictureOpening remarks by DG REGIOOpening remarks by FPIOpening remarks by Osaka PrefectureOpening remarks by Catalonian Minister Duch Panel discussionPanel discussionPanel discussion Over 150 participants joined the virtual Hybrid Launch of the IURC Asia and Australasia (AA) at the EU Pavilion on the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, on 28 May 2025. The event provided an opportunity to...

Register: Hybrid Launch of the IURC AA on 28/05/2025

IURC Hybrid Seminar to Spotlight Global Urban and Regional Cooperation at the Expo 2025 Osaka We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming seminar: “European Union, Asia and Australasia: Building Partnerships Between Cities and Regions” Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025Time: 08:00 – 10:00 CEST (15:00 – 17:00 local time in Japan)Venue: Online (Zoom) – Hybrid event at the EU...

Maia Circular Economy Cooperation – EcoSchool Videos

The City of Maia and its communication partners Biorumo have completed six (6) "Do-It-Yourself" videos on circular economy waste management. These videos were shared with Kuala Lumpur City Hall during the Climate Change Seminar on 21 September which attracted 270 pax in-person attendance. Susana Pinho, Senior Technician from Maia City Council was instrumental in executing this with Mr. Carlos Mendes,...

Bangkok launches first food policy in cooperation with Milan and the European Union

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has reached a significant milestone with the introduction of the Bangkok Food Policy 2023-2027, aimed at enhancing the sustainability and inclusivity of the city’s food system. The policy is a result of Bangkok’s cooperation with the European Union (EU). Under this policy, Bangkok envisions itself as “the city of food with sustainability, equity and quality”....

Thematic Webinar Series – Closing Modules

Thematic Webinar Series - Closing Modules Monday 11 December - 22 December 2023 08:00 am Brussels time (CET) Venue: Online (Zoom link will be sent after registration) The IURC Asia and Australasia team will be running a series of thematic webinars dealing with: EU Funding: Opportunities for possible pilot / follow-up actions Tactical Urbanism – Deep Dive and Pilot Actions Smart...

City resilience at the forefront of EU-India city partnerships

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme was formally launched in India in February 2022 and worked with 14 Indian cities and 9 European cities, through 9 city pairings and five single cities. The programme focused on exchange of best practices, thematic cluster workshops, exchange visits, bi-lateral meetings, etc. For three city pairings it was possible to design and...

Portugal-Malaysia Pilot Action: Penang Eco-School Delegation to Famalicão

From 20 to 25 November 2023, Vila Nova de Famalicao (VNF) hosted the second cohort of the eco-school student exchange programme “Famalicao-Penang Youth Climate Action”, which has been awarded the support of IURC's competitive fund. The mission focused on closing the loop on food waste and other waste streams. The Malaysian delegation consisted of one principal and two top students...

Kochi-Messina collaboration leads to pilot flood management warning system in the city of Kochi

As part of the IURC Programme, five water level sensors were installed in Kochi, India from November 13-16, 2023, in cooperation with Kochi Municipal Corporation, Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED), Kochi, City of Messina and University of Messina. The water level sensors were developed by the University of Messina and were deployed in the city of Kochi by...