Objective

City & Values 2006 was held in Bilbao from 2 to 4 May and was organised by “Bilbao Metropoli-30”, the association for the revitalisation of Metropolitan Bilbao. The event seeks to consolidate the strategy of values for the development of the city put forward at the association’s extraordinary general meeting in January 2005 where the members of Bilbao Metropoli-30 were informed of the “Now, the people” project.

Continuity is thus given to the line of work initiated by the project “Bilbao 2010. A reflection on strategy”, submitted to members at the extraordinary general meeting on 25 November 1999, and whose strategic keys aim at transforming Metropolitan Bilbao into a place of opportunities where ideas become reality, as well as by the paper “Bilbao 2010. The Strategy”, which the Association put forward on 4 April 2001, with an aim to channelling reflection on strategy, together with its keys and essential aspects, towards projects that enable Metropolitan Bilbao to avail of the changes already made and gain recognition worldwide as a city with international standing.

The strategic development of Metropolitan Bilbao in the last fifteen years is considered a model and reference for medium-sized cities all over the world. The Forum is an opportunity to analyse and publicise this experience for its application in other parts of the world.

Objectives:

To make public and private players aware of the fact that the development of medium-sized cities must be based not only on improved infrastructure but also on
an advancement in values and on necessary changes in conduct.
To be the first step in the path to be followed in this direction by Metropolitan Bilbao.
To promote the “city’s centrality” in the international framework, making Metropolitan Bilbao a candidate city for holding the most prestigious of international events.
To identify and broadcast a series of key values for the future development of cities, keeping in mind synergies with the process of building infrastructure.
To put across a compact image of the city abroad, one that is based on key and differential values.
To foment a greater familiarity with Metropolitan Bilbao as a reference, and turn it into a model internationally.
To learn from the exchange of experiences with other cities and experts on the development of cities based on values.
To act as a platform for defining specific measures.