Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad Emerges as Sole Indian City in Finals for Prestigious Guangzhou International Award
Pimpri, 22nd November 2023: The city of Pimpri-Chinchwad, known for its industrial prowess, is in contention for the prestigious 6th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award). Pimpri-Chinchwad has secured a spot among the 15 cities worldwide shortlisted for the award, making it the sole Indian city to reach the finals.
Presently, Pimpri-Chinchwad holds the second position with 8.55 lakh votes, trailing behind China’s Xianning City, which is leading with 14.82 lakh votes. The voting period concludes on November 30, as per the announcement by the civic administration.
Competing for the award alongside Pimpri-Chinchwad are cities such as Antalya in Türkiye, Bogotá in Colombia, Cape Town in South Africa, Gwangju in Korea, Halandri in Greece, Iztapalapa in Mexico, Jakarta in Indonesia, Kampala in Uganda, Kazan in Russia, Mannheim in Germany, Ramallah in Palestine, São Paulo in Brazil, Tehran in Iran, and Xianning in China. Each of these cities represents global urban innovation.
Civic officials revealed that a total of 193 cities from 54 countries are in the running for the Guangzhou Award, with Pimpri-Chinchwad being the only Indian city to make it to the final 15. The selection of Pimpri-Chinchwad holds significance, considering the growing global interest in urban innovation, with 274 initiatives from 193 cities and regions across 54 countries submitting valid applications for the 6th cycle of the award.
A distinguished technical committee of international experts convened at Guangzhou Library from September 11 to 14 to meticulously evaluate the submissions. The selection process was guided by criteria such as innovation, effectiveness, context, and replicability, all aligned with the pursuit of local implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA).
Pimpri-Chinchwad’s inclusion in the final 15 shortlisted cities out of 45 deserving initiatives underscores its pioneering urban development efforts. PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting Pimpri-Chinchwad’s commitment to innovative urban solutions, citizen participation, and environmentally friendly measures.
The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation has become a global platform for fostering knowledge creation and facilitating city-to-city learning in urban innovation since 2012. Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is urging citizens to vote for the city by scanning the QR code on their website, emphasizing that this support will contribute to gaining global recognition for their initiatives.
