New cities network launched for Latin America

A new network for cities in Latin America was launched today with the aim of building stronger relationships internationally for its members.

With its headquarters in member city Mexico City, the network brings together Quito (Ecuador); Lima (Peru); Morón (Argentina); Montevideo (Uruguay); Belo Horizonte (Brazil) and Medellín (Colombia).

The Euro-Latin American Alliance for Cooperation between Cities (AL-LAs) has received €1.4 million in funding from the European Union and includes the French association Cités Unies de France and from Spain the Fondo Andaluz de Municipios para la Solidaridad Internacional.

“This network has a particular function which is to strengthen the capacity of Latin American cities in international relations,” said Eugene Zapata, International Adviser to the Mayor of Mexico City and project director. “It will build on the professional networks already in place for international relations directors in Mexico (AMAIE), Brazil (FONARI), Argentina (INTERMUNI) and France (ARRICOD).”

The Mexican network of international relations advisers in local governments (AMIAE) has only 18 members out of 31 federated states, which Zapata says indicates the need to develop the capacity of cities to build international relationships.

“The network will benefit the national associations of local governments and open up the opportunities to develop international relations between cities,” Zapata told Cities Today, adding that the network will also work with chambers of commerce and universities with the aim of developing an online knowledge hub for exchange of information for cities.

Eighty-five percent of the network’s budget is being met by the European Union with the rest from member subscriptions. A 30-month work plan will be discussed and finalised this week in Mexico City as part of a broader cooperation agreement signed by the Mayor of Mexico City and the European Union.