City Participates in WECP Meetings

Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 10:30 AM
Mayor Dennis O'Keefe addresses the WECP.

The City of St. John’s was one of a number of energy cities in Houston last week attending meetings of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), held in conjunction with the annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).

The WECP is a collaboration of 19 cities with the energy industry in common. Mayor O'Keefe, who is president of the WECP, chaired meetings with colleagues from major cities worldwide considering matters of city growth, capacity challenges and opportunities for development and diversification. These sessions included discussions with several world renowned experts in international relations and urban development matters.

“The meetings provide an opportunity to foster strong city-to-city relationships, which allow members to share experiences and strategies while developing municipal, academic, business and industry connections,” says Mayor Dennis O'Keefe. “While we are diverse cities, we have the energy industry as a common element and there is much we can learn from each other and many opportunities to partner for long-term benefit."

This year’s sessions build upon the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the WECP held in St. John’s in 2012, which increased the profile of St. John’s on the international stage.

“This organization has helped St. John’s facilitate linkages with other mature energy cities, as well as business and industry,” says Mayor O’Keefe.

The Offshore Technology Conference was also attended by a large number of businesses from the local area with interests in the offshore oil and gas industry who realize the value in developing business opportunities at this international event.

“The oil and gas sector is playing an integral role in the economy and growth of this region, and it is important that St. John’s be represented at these events as the City garners more attention from the industry on an international level,” said Mayor O’Keefe.

The WECP is collaboration between 19 energy cities around the world including Calgary, Stavanger, Aberdeen, Houston and Perth. This collaboration provides a worldwide network of opportunities for the businesses within the member cities and also provides municipalities with shared knowledge and resources to assist in economic development initiatives.

For further information:
Jennifer Mills
Communications Officer
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 570-2037
Cell: (709) 690-7586
E-mail: jmills@stjohns.ca

Dennis O’Keefe
Mayor
President, World Energy Cities Partnership
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 576-8477
E-mail: dokeefe@stjohns.ca