Phuket joins Portland in municipal project

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town officials will work together with counterparts from the city of Portland, Oregon, over the next two years in an effort to improve the city through mutual cooperation and an exchange of urban management expertise. The project, which is part of the International City/County Management Association’s CityLinks Program, will also include Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen municipalities. The CityLinks Program is administered in association with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and seeks “to improve the quality of local governments and strengthen democracy through international municipal partnerships.” Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok announced the project yesterday at Phuket Town Municipal Offices, saying that Phuket Town stood to learn a great deal from Portland, especially in terms of making the town’s landscape more attractive. Portland-based officials will also provide assistance in the Bangyai Canal Reclamation Project and the “Sustainable Environmental Protection Through the Implementation of Prudent and Financial Management Project”. The project will officially begin on July 26 with a meeting in Chiang Mai. Last year, Rayong Municipality ended a similar two-year program with Portland.