The Lord Provost of Aberdeen is to seek the presidency of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) after the City Growth and Resources Committee backed the bid.
A vote on a new President and vice-president will take place at the WECP’s Annual General Meeting, which is to be held in Aberdeen in September.
The non-profit organisation, which the city helped found in 1995, focuses on collaboration between members on economic, educational and cultural activities that build on their unique shared experiences as global energy hubs. It also promotes the important economic role that cities play and their position as energy policy leaders.
The period of office is two years.
Lord Provost Barney Crockett, who has been the vice-president of the WECP since January 2018, said: “Aberdeen's future is ever more international. We have always punched above our weight but now more than ever we have to show commitment to our world-wide future.”
Councillor Douglas Lumsden, convener of Aberdeen City Council’s City Growth and Resources Committee, said: “The Lord Provost has played a key role in developing the interests of both the partnership and the city, and we are confident that the WECP will support his candidacy.
“Holding the presidency of the WECP would bring a significantly enhanced leadership role for Aberdeen with much larger cities and capitals as well as providing yet more opportunities to promote the city as an international trade and investment hub.
“It would support our ambitions to deliver the Regional Economic Strategy and the diversification of the local economy and be a real advantage for our work through Invest Aberdeen.
“Aberdeen is eagerly looking forward to hosting the AGM and the election of the Lord Provost as president would consolidate the city’s pivotal role within this influential organisation.”
Welcoming the decision last year to hold the event in Aberdeen, Lord Provost Crockett said the event would showcase Aberdeen as a business centre with globally-competitive industries not only in energy and renewables, but food and drink, research and education and a diverse cultural offering.
This year’s AGM will run in Aberdeen from September 4-7, overlapping with Offshore Europe (September 3-6).
The World Energy Cities are: Aberdeen, UK; Atyrau, Kazakhstan; Barranquilla, Colombia; Calgary, Canada; Cape Town, South Africa; Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Daqing, China; Doha, Qatar; Dongying, China; Esbjerg, Denmark; Halifax, Canada; Houston, USA; Karamay, China; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Luanda, Angola; Perth, Australia; St John’s, Canada; Stavanger, Norway; Villahermosa, Mexico.