By Justin O'Brien and Kay Scrimger
June 23, 2003

Mayor Paco Moncayo brought greetings to the Second International Conference of Mayors from his city of Quito, "hidden in the equatorial Andes."

Moncayo, who was a key participant in the First Summit of the International Conference of Mayors, in April 2002, pointed out that his city of 1.84 million was founded in 1534, has a well-preserved and beautiful historical center, and was the first city to receive UNESCO's designation as a World Heritage Site.

"This century will be the -Century of Cities,-" he emphasized. Because they are so close to the people, only local governments can adequately respond to the needs and aspirations of people and have such a direct impact on their quality of life."

Moncayo emphasized that cities are emerging upon the international stage because they are players in national, regional, and global economies. "To be competitive, cities must focus on security, economic, and judicial stability, technological advancement, and workforce development. These are the greatest concerns of potential investors."

Moncayo pointed out that the rising incidence of violent crime in recent years poses the most serious threat to development and progress, not just in Ecuador but also in other countries in the region and throughout the world.

The mayor concluded by sharing with the assembled mayors that Quito's strategic development plan focuses upon "developing tourism, improving the quality of life of the people of Quito, and bringing Quito into the digital world."