Expert’s Round Table on the Reconstruction of the City of Mosul
Wednesday, 27. February 2019
all day long
Expert’s Round Table
on the Reconstruction of the City of Mosul
27 February 2019 – Vienna – Round Table
28 February 2019 – Site visits and bilateral meetings
Organisers:
Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Austria
Austrian Society of Engineers and Architects (ÖIAV)
Background information:
The organizers plan to gather experts to discuss the most important engineering and economic aspects that will assist in the reconstruction program of the city of Mossul. The idea of convening this meeting was preceded by numerous conferences and meetings, most recently the conference held in Kuwait on the reconstruction of Iraq. The organizers noted that it is important to rely on specialization to provide clear and effective utility and assistance. Expertise about the locating (Mossul) and determining the needs (engineering and economic) and their broad areas in the urban and civil planning context. Therefore, the meeting aims to develop plans with the Iraqi side for the effective participation of the Austrian side in the civil reconstruction projects in Mossul.
Objectives:
The Expert’s Round Table aims to realise the following:
- Overview on current and actual projects and programs for the reconstruction of damaged areas in Mossul, presented by the Iraqi side;
- Presentation of maps, satellite views and historic background information on damaged areas;
- Overview on architectural projects and urban development plan from Iraqi side; including project status reports;
- Discussing scopes of cooperation between the city of Vienna / Austria and the city of Mossul / Iraq on official levels;
- Exchange of expertise and know-how transfer for reconstruction between Austrian, Iraqi and international experts; including best-practice models from Austrian experts for the reconstruction of the Austrian cities after the world wars;
- Benefitting from Vienna as the “World’s Most Liveable City” (Mercer Study 2018) for effective urban planning and cooperation;
- Introducing experts and solutions for the protection and restauration of historic monuments and places;
- Creating new, integrative urban living spaces for all parts of population;
- Strengthening non-governmental social initiatives, i.e. through creation of new public areas;
- Fostering the establishment of public educational centers;
- Presentation of new technologies and innovations in the fields of architecture and construction (i.e. low budget construction methods etc)
Target group:
The Expert’s Round Table is targeting to bring together the following representatives:
- Official representatives of related public and governmental institutions, including officials of damaged areas from the Republic of Iraq (ministry of municipal affairs, Iraqi embassy, Iraqi federation of chambers of commerce etc.)
- Representatives of related international organisations active in Iraq, i.e. UN-related institutions and programs (UN Iraq Recovery and Resilience Program, UNDP, UNIDO, UNESCO, UNAMI and others);
- Project leaders of reconstruction programs in Iraq from official institutions, ministries, other governmental entities;
- Architects and experts from Iraq;
- Austrian experts and representatives, including:
- Official representatives from the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related department in charge for international development;
- City & urban planning experts from the government of the City of Vienna;
- Representatives of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
- Experts and internationally renowned city planning institutions and companies from Austria;
- Leading and innovative construction companies and architects, other related companies and private sector entities (e.g. Porr, Strabag, GHS, and others)
- Development and financial institutions from Austria (e.g. Austrian Development Agency, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID))
Success criteria and targeted outcome:
- Formation of a business delegation of Austrian companies for follow-up visits in Iraq upon invitation / coordination with involved official institutions (Prime Minister, Mossul governorate etc)
- Establishing a contact area for the private sector to liaise with official institutions related to the reconstruction of Iraq;
- A clear and transparent overview of the current situation regarding reconstruction in Iraq, including definition of areas, programs and planned projects;
- Clear and objective presentation of criteria for allocation and implementation of projects from the Austrian and the Iraqi side;
- Definition of monitoring tools for the effective realization of the projects;
- Enabling direct channels between all parties involved for immediate and continuous cooperation;
Scheduled time &location:
The Expert’s Round Table shall be held on 27 February 2019 at the Austrian Society of Engineers & Architects, Eschenbachgasse 9, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
On 28 February 2019, bilateral visits are planned with the Iraqi delegation to companies and / or institutions.
Links:
