Event: Rural and Urban Economic Development Strategies

Who should attend? Anyone who want to make changes in our societies.

Conference Overview

The future of the economy in rural areas is dependent on many of the same factors that drive the wider economy and demands innovation, new skills and a supportive business environment. Indeed, structural convergence between rural and urban areas, and in particular the dominance of the service sector means at regional level it no longer makes sense to talk of a single, distinct rural economy.

The relationships between the major urban areas, market towns and their rural hinterlands are now recognized as a highly interdependent economic system. Rural areas contribute to, and benefit from, the prosperity of urban centres. However, sparse or more remote areas are often characterised by low-growth and low-wage economies. There is evidence that focusing on the economic gains from building stronger complementary relationships between the urban and rural areas will deliver significant and sustainable economic gain for these remoter areas, as well as for those closer to their urban neighbours.

These relationships should recognise the opportunities for:

• Appropriate development to support and enhance the value of these areas
• Addressing the economic challenges that prevent these areas from reaching their full contribution to the growth
• Enhancing the quality of life of the region as a whole

Rural areas will play an active role in the development of a dynamic and sustainable knowledge-based economy. Country’s important rural assets are agriculture. The rural areas also help to create an attractive environment for the region, increasing quality of life for the whole population. While many of the issues are similar in urban and rural areas, the strategies will often need to be tailored so that delivery is appropriate to local needs.
The provision of affordable rural housing, business support and space for rural enterprise, and access to other services whether health, transportation or ICT infrastructure, need to be balanced with the issues climate change impact in creating successful responses to rural economic development.

Such Strategic ambitions could include:

• Positive planning framework, that enables: increased provision of affordable housing, Provision of employment space that allows rural businesses to start up and grow, Deployment of affordable renewable energy, Effective delivery of skills and workforce development to rural peri- urban communities, Improved connectivity and transport services between rural areas and regional cities to increase connections markets, Successful development, management and conservation of environmental assets to deliver tourism, biodiversity and healthy living objectives.

1. Focusing on Key elements of growth and change
2. Resource mobilization for rural and urban economic development
3. Improving service delivery
4. Developing infrastructure
5. Entrepreneurship and new business development
6. Financing economic development
7. Agriculture development
8. Skills development and Job creation