Economy
With the start of the vaccination campaign, a powerful strategy for pandemic control has been initiated. Once the incidence of infection has declined, the task will be to rebuild the economy, secure jobs, support small and medium enterprises and the informal sector, and change course towards sustainable and green economic development. Cities must therefore find strategies not only to overcome the consequences of the crisis, but also to achieve the goals of major international agendas, including the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. The Economy Cluster supports urban practitioners in this endeavour by facilitating a fruitful exchange of knowledge and experience on how to promote local economic development, strengthen private sector competitiveness and create job opportunities.
Another thematic focus of the Economy Cluster is the tourism industry, which has been severely affected by the pandemic. Planning for tourism recovery is not about returning to a previous state, but about reorienting the tourism sector to mitigate and adapt to escalating environmental risks, including climate change. To achieve this, the tourism sector must take advantage of emerging market trends and adopt innovative technologies.
Now is the time to find solutions for dealing with the consequences of the pandemic and initiate a new and innovative path of economic and industrial development.
