OECD Champion Mayors Initiative welcomes seven mayors to its Steering Group to guide implementation of new vision
13 February 2023
As cities battle to meet continuing challenges such as the rising cost of living, climate change and ever-widening inequalities, members of the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth initiative have committed to tackling inequalities and championing growth that creates economic opportunities for all.
The coalition has formed a Steering Group to support Chair, Mayor of Reykjavik (Iceland) Dagur Eggertsson. The seven members of the steering group are the mayors of: Braga (Portugal) Ricardo Rio, Bratislava (Slovak Republic) Matúš Vallo, Brussels (Belgium) Philippe Close, Glasgow (UK) Susan Aitken, Paris (France) Anne Hidalgo, Renca (Chile) Claudio Castro Salas, and Tokyo (Japan) Yuriko Koike, and have an expansive range of experience in advancing inclusive growth agendas across a diverse set of local economic contexts and conditions.
“I welcome the formation of the new Steering Group for the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative, which reflects the talent, diversity and commitment of Mayors across the coalition. We look forward to working with the Steering Group and all the Champion Mayors to respond to the most pressing challenges facing society today – from cost of living pressures to climate change – and deliver our shared vision of cities that provide opportunities for all,” said Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary-General.
Steering Group members will provide strategic guidance, increase capacity building for inclusive growth agendas in cities, and be the voice of the Champion Mayors, engaging with national governments on global agendas, including within the OECD. The Steering Group will also ensure the ongoing governance of the Initiative, including by selecting the chair every two years.
“I am thrilled to work with this strong and diverse set of city leaders to support a renewed global commitment to inclusive growth in cities. Together we will work to advance the vision of OECD Champion Mayors Initiative, disseminate concrete solutions and strengthen policy-making in domains of high-impact for inclusive growth such as expanding labour and housing market access, and ensure that the green and digital transformation benefits all residents,” said Dagur Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavik and Chair of the OECD Champion Mayors
The Steering Group will work with the Chair to develop a strategy to implement the new vision for the Initiative. Their first meeting will take place on February 17.
The OECD Champion Mayors Initiative launched in 2016, is a coalition of 59 mayors around the world at the forefront of the global debate on inclusive growth in cities – improving access to quality jobs, providing affordable housing, investing in infrastructure, ensuring reliable public services, and promoting education that improves life chances.
The OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative, is served by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities which helps local, regional and national governments unleash the potential of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises, promote inclusive and sustainable regions and cities, boost local job creation, and implement sound tourism policies.