~ The World Bank
The World Bank group, and in particular the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (IBRD), places its specialist expertise at the disposal of
the United Nations with a view to fighting poverty and raising living standards
for the inhabitants of developing countries. The IBRD is a development bank
which provides low- or medium-income countries with finance, advice, technical
assistance and other services designed to optimize knowledge sharing and use.
In Marseilles in 2004, it created KNA-MENA - the Knowledge Network Agency
for the Middle East and North Africa region - one of whose programmes
concerns sustainable urban development.
www.worldbank.org ~ www.worldbank.ordg/wbi/knamena
~ The City of Marseilles
With its centuries-old tradition as an open city acting as a link between
cultures, Marseilles is determined to develop into a major international urban
centre serving as an active interface between Europe and the Mediterranean.
Marseilles has much to gain by further opening up to the outside world:
~ knowledge of other cultures also means greater knowledge of one’s
own culture, and interaction makes for a better approach to globalisation,
~ status as a host city makes it easier to attract and hold onto expertise,
talent and capital,
~ actions and projects born of the city’s social life can build international
influence and international awareness of Marseilles.
www.mairie-marseille.fr
