The third international conference on “The Role of Regional Planning in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals with the Use of AI Applications (RP-SDG’s-AI)”, organized by the Higher Institute of Regional Planning at Damascus University in cooperation with the National Union of Syrian Students, was launched. It was also accompanied by a scientific exhibition of posters and an exhibition of academic bodies participating in the conference in Reda Saeed Conference Center.

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Bassam Ibrahim, stated that the conference aims to deepen scientific research in the field of pursuing sustainable development of regional systems, and to enhance awareness of the importance of regional planning and associated smart technologies.

President of Damascus University, Dr. Muhammad Osama Al-Jabban, indicated that the importance of the conference stems from the topics it addresses through the research papers and the interactive scientific workshops in which youth teams participate, with the aim of highlighting the role of Syrian youth in regional planning.

Dean of the Higher Institute of Regional Planning, Dr. Ghada Bilal, explained that launching the conference comes in implementation of the vision of President Bashar al-Assad of the necessity of giving priority to the spatial dimension in development plans, and the importance of linking development plans to the place and the region as the basis for comprehensive advancement and development after years of bitter crisis in Syria.

Governor of Damascus, Engineer Muhammad Tariq Krishati, gave a presentation on the Rehabilitation of Barada River project.

In his intervention, Minister of Agriculture, Engineer Mohamed Hassan Qatana, stressed the importance of these conferences at the national level, noting that the Ministry of Agriculture worked through the Agricultural Development Forum to prepare plans, policies and programs.

Minister of Public Works and Housing, Engineer Suhail Abdul Latif, noted that regional planning is the result of partnership between the academically concerned party represented by Damascus University and the Higher Institute of Regional Planning and the executive party represented by the government.