2nd Oman Sustainable Urbanisation Conference 2012 to take place from 3rd-4th December

Held under the theme "Creating a Sustainable Urban Development Strategy, for Sustainable Socio-Economic Prosperity" the Conference will highlight global trends in urbanisation, challenges and opportunities presently faced by the urban community and will draw focus on pro-environment safety measures including green technologies, water resources and waste management.

A panel of expert speakers and city leaders invited from different countries will give their valuable insight, experiences and opinion regarding sustainable urbanisation, both at a global and local level and will highlight issues under any of the three topics mentioned above.

Since there is an increasing demand for housing especially among the low and middle income groups updates on the housing policy and government housing programs for low income citizens-addressing problems and solutions will give attendees better insight into the retail sector at present.

With the country further seeing increased activity in the construction sector and heavy spending on infrastructure projects, topics like Innovative concepts of urban projects that responds to sustainability challenges ; Green Buildings- Understanding the economic and environmental benefits ; the GU Tech Eco-House Project and Integrating an effective road and transport Master plan to reduce congestation and improve road safety will help attendees achieve development in the best sustainable manner.

In order to achieve sustainable urbanisation, the country must focus on creating a green economy and harness the potential of Renewable Energy, power the city throught the same while understanding its economic benefits ; address bigger issues challenging the country like water scarcity and undertake Next Generation Waste Management System and Strategies for urban and industrial environment.

Attendees will be enlightened on various topics related to sustainable urbanisation, with respect to the current status and ongoing developments within the country, namely Infrastructure ; Branding ; Health and Human Development ; Green Technologies for cities/Municipalities ; Environment ; Prevention, Management and Reconstruction of Natural and Man made disasters and achievement of a Digital City.

These developments will be touched upon by confirmed speakers through topics like Sustainable Development in the Middle East and Real Outcome of Rio+20 presented by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Research Fellow-Environment Program, Gulf Research Center (Global Focal Point of Science and Technology-Major Group of UNEP) ; Urbanisation Trends and Development Strategy implementation in other countries-experiences and lessons to be learnt covered by Dr. Bijaya K. Shrestha, Director, Town Development Fund, Kathmandu, Nepal and Mr. Ali Alzahid, Senior Associate Planner-Strategic Policy, Urban Planning Council, Abu Dhabi and Doing well by doing good: Does going green with commercial real estate pay delivered by Mr. Jonathan Fothergill, ACIArb, Director of UAE Valuations, Cluttons, UAE.

Panel Discussions will also enlighten attendees on how to make Oman competitive and prosperous, steer human potential towards sustainable development and encourage attendees to adopt the latest technologies that will revolutionise urban performance.