Sustainable Urbanization Strategies and Economic Development: Role of Cities in National Economy

摘要

The objectives of this paper are to: -review the relationship between urbanization and economic development, urban and regional planning, and urban-rural linkage; examine the role of cities as engines of economic development; analyze the role and potential of integrated urban-regional planning in order to achieve rural-urban regional planning objectives; outline strategies for achieving sustainable urbanization and economic; examine the institutional and administrative frameworks in urban development , planning and management and to make recommendations on improvements in urban planning and development systems for sustainable urban development. One of the key challenges in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals is the ability to accommodate sustain-ability and growth in urban and regional planning. This has necessitated the re-conceptualisation of the role of the urban sector and the significance of urbanization in the development agenda. The paradigm shift arising from new approaches to urban governance has occasioned impacts in planning policies, strategies and instruments as well as in the institutional and governmental structures regulating them. How then are cities to be planned, governed and managed to ensure sustainability? The desire to attract finance capital and markets for goods and services internationally has put pressure on the spatial structure and physical infrastructure of cities. Cities are increasingly acting as engines of economic growth. They form the cradle of specialized services needed by the population and spur urban and regional economic development. By virtue of locational advantages they form focal points for e-conomic development and provide markets for goods and services, employment and home for growing population. Sustainability to the urban sector, urban policy, built environment and urban governance has gained momentum in the past few years and become a central theme in economic development globally. This has become relevant because cities are undergoing a period of social, environmental and economic turbulence as they struggle to grow and manage change. Sustainable urbanization and development is a wake-up call to all actors and partners in development at all levels. Sustainable urbanization and development is based mainly on the partnerships between the public sector, the private sector and the city residents as autonomous decision-makers. It entails mutual relationships between all human settlements, small and large, between towns and cities and their environs. However, the key responsibility for achieving sustainable urbanization lies with the local government and their partners at grass-root level.