Jason Mathis, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance, and members of Delegation from Syria
Hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber, Downtown Alliance and World Trade Center Utah, a nine person delegation from Syria visited Salt Lake City to learn more about urban planning as guests of the U.S. Department of State’s
International Visitor Leadership Program. Distinguished guests included representatives of the Ministry of Republic Presidency Affairs, Ministry of Local Administration, Cabinet of Prime Ministers, and TERCON Immobilien Projektentwicklungs, GmbH, Middle East-Liaison Office, Syria.
Among the objectives outlined by the Department of State for this project were to understand the context of urban and regional planning and development in the United States; review governmental planning operations and legislative initiatives designed to support sustainable growth and explore issues related to planning for rapid population growth, such as zoning, infrastructure, housing, green space and community services. The Delegates were specifically interested in learning about problems in urban planning and development and the ways these issues were addressed in Utah. During the meeting, Jason Mathis, Executive Director, DTA and Carla Wiese, Economic Development Director (DTA), introduced a variety of projects designed to change the dynamics of downtown Salt Lake City and shared information about Downtown Rising, its vision, initiatives and projects and role it plays in the community.
Members of the delegation asked question about financing for urban development and the impact of the global economic crisis on residential and commercial construction projects such as the recently approved Foreign Trade Zone. Elizabeth Goryunova, representing the WTCU and the Salt Lake Chamber, reviewed public policy initiatives of the Chamber and discussed the Chamber’s leadership role in the Utah business community and its efforts to advance issues in energy, transportation, housing through public policy initiatives.
About Syria:
Area – 71,479 sq mi
Population – 2009 estimate 21,906,000
GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate
– Total $94.563 billion
– Per capita $4,756
GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate
– Total $55.024 billion
– Per capita $2,767
For a detailed report on Syria please click here.
