Few things in the world have had the meteoric success that the Urban Economy Forum achieved in Canada. Last year, we celebrated the second edition of this forum with a greater number of participants and we have had an increasing number of some of the best speakers around the world. 

Urban Economy Forum, without any doubt, is becoming one of the most important platforms not only for Canada but for the entire world; a platform that unites people from different backgrounds, ideas and contexts to debate about sustainable urban development and the role that economy plays. 

Last year, I was very honored to take part in the second edition of the forum as the Honorary Chair. I want to mention that the first Urban Economy Forum was a great opportunity to think about the creation of a space that can be a repository of ideas, innovation, creativity, and urban solutions. Today, it is certain that this space is going to be the World Urban Pavilion in Toronto. The Pavilion is the joint activity between UN-Habitat, Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation, Daniels Corporation and Urban Economy Forum. The Pavilion presents a wonderful opportunity to host a regional representation of the SDG Cities, which is perhaps one of the most important flagship programmes of UN-Habitat. 

The third edition of the Urban Economy Forum will be about urban recovery which is an essential theme of discussion and a timely one. It offers a unique opportunity to think about what the meaning of the new normal is and the recovery process in cities that have been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is without any doubt an urban crisis. According to the statement from the Secretary General of UN from “a Policy Brief on Cities and COVID-19” report, 92% of the COVID-19 cases were present in the urban areas. It is not only an urban crisis, but it is a crisis that has affected mostly the poor and marginalized. UN-Habitat estimates that 32% to 35% of the income of the cities globally (and it is very possible Canadian cities are not an exception) will be seriously affected by this. In addition to the death toll, we have a social and economic toll, and therefore we need to think together about the mechanisms and solutions for this recovery. We need to think in terms of social, economic and bioenvironmental recovery. We need to think how the new normal will really put recovery in a medium-term perspective, aligning in ecology, climate change, the possibility to build a better future for all of us. 

The third edition of Urban Economy Forum offers a great opportunity, and I am very honored to participate as the Honorary Chair. The Urban Economy Forum has always been working closely together with the UN-Habitat. We shall continue to be partners and work together on the World Urban Pavilion initiative alongside the Canadian Government. I am sure, I have absolutely no doubt that the third edition of the forum will be three times more successful. We invite you to this platform. We invite you to this congregation of ideas, experiences, multiple capacities that reflect on the need for fundamental change. We welcome you to the third edition of this forum that will be held again in Toronto, Canada. Thank you very much.