Received Place Marketing Awards for Economic Development (2019)

The Y-PORT project was awarded the Place Marketing Award (a prize given to initiatives that take advantage of regional characteristics) from a forum established by the Institute for Public Management and Regional Governance at the University of Marseille, a French national university in France, with the support of local governments in France.
At the award ceremony held in Reel, France in April 2019, a video message summarizing Y-PORT's initiatives were presented and publicized.

The Place Marketing Forum is an international conference that brings together intellectuals and experts on the fascinating characteristics of the region. This forum was established by the Institute for Public Management and Regional Governance at the University of Marseille with the support of French local governments, and currently 22 municipalities, including Lyon, a sister city of Yokohama, are participating. At the conference, lively exchange of opinions and case introductions are held, making it a place to share attractive best practices around the world.
This meeting has been held every year since 2013, and awards are awarded to "promotion activities that make use of local characteristics". 2019 was held in Reel, France, from April 4th to 5th. (The host cities so far include ex-Ann-Provences, Lyon, Strasbourg, etc.)

For details on the forum and awards, please refer to the external website created by the University of Marseilles.

The Place Marketing Award is an "award for promotional activities that take advantage of local characteristics."
The three criteria for selecting an award are innovation/impressive results/emblematic performance.
In 2019, the winners were selected in the following five categories:

①Economic Development Category: Y-PORT - Yokohama city / Japan
②Tourism Category: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association / Canada
③Specialty Category: Arvieu 2020 - Village of Arvieu / France
④Major Projects Category: Zhongxian e-sport stadium / China
⑤Blanding Category: Dublin One - Dublin Town / Ireland

In the description column for Economic Development Category, there is a statement that Yokohama City has won the award.
(Hereinafter, excerpted from the original text.)
By capitalizing on the technologies, know-how and expertise developed as Smart City, Yokohama launched in 2011 an international technical cooperation project, the Yokohama Partnership of Resources and Technologies (Y-PORT). Y-PORT aims to provide opportunities for Japanese companies in emerging Asian countries, to support residential attractiveness and to strengthen the city’s international reputation. Four Southeast Asian metropolitan areas (Bangkok, Batam, Cebu and Da Nang) have signed public-private partnership agreements with Y-PORT to better manage their waste, preserve their water resources or solve their congestion problems. Yokohama has become the leader of the Asia Smart City Alliance and organizes an international conference, Asia Smart City Conference (ASCC) every year, bringing together experts, practitioners and international organizations (Asian Development Bank, World Bank, etc.).
(Summary)
In emerging countries such as Asia, infrastructure development and environmental measures have been delayed due to rapid population concentration due to remarkable economic growth and urbanization, and various urban problems have arisen. In addition to overseas countries and cities, as well as the Japanese government and international organizations, there are growing expectations for urban development in Yokohama and the utilization of the technologies and know-how of the companies that support them. Since 2011, Yokohama City has been working on "International Technical Cooperation through Public-Private Partnership Utilizing Yokohama's Resources and Technology (Y-PORT project)" with the aim of supporting the resolution of various urban issues facing emerging countries and supporting the overseas expansion of companies. By promoting international technical cooperation through the Y-PORT business, we aim to increase the brand value of the international city Yokohama and promote the overseas expansion of local companies.
Currently, we have concluded agreements with the four cities of Bangkok, Batam, Cebu, and Da Nang in the ASEAN region as a Y-PORT partnership city, and we are working together to solve issues such as water and sewage systems and resource recycling measures in each city through international cooperation through public-private partnerships. In addition, in close collaboration with international development financial institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, we organize an international conference called the Asian Smart City Conference every year. At the conference, engineers and experts in community development and urban development will come together from Asian cities, international organizations, and academic institutions to share a variety of knowledge, but also to create specific business opportunities.