The Region of the Ionian Islands and the Ionian University are organizing under their auspices the Ionian Islands Development Conference entitled “Ionian Islands: Development Path and Goals” in collaboration with the Ionian Islands Regional Development Fund, which will be held in Corfu from October 17 to 19.
The sustainable development of the Ionian Islands requires development strategies based on the comparative advantages of the Region, which are the culture, the natural environment and the different physiognomy of each island, conditions that require the creation of infrastructure and structures to face the challenges of the next decade.
Given challenges, such as climate change, international conditions and technological developments, the conference aims to capture sustainable development strategies in the main pillars of interest of the Ionian Islands Region, such as tourism, the primary sector, infrastructure, etc. with the aim of specializing them in the immediate period of time per regional unit.
More specifically, the main thematic sections of the Conference will mainly include:
-Sustainable Tourism (visitor management, product differentiation, extension of the tourist season, promotion, etc.).
-Primary Sector Development (interconnection with tourism, product branding, support and adaptation due to climate crisis, etc.).
– Climate Change and Environment (coastal protection, water management, soil quality, etc.).
– Infrastructure and Connectivity (transport, energy networks, infrastructure resilience, etc.).
-Digital Upgrading and Innovation (Business innovation, digital infrastructure, etc.).
-Social Cohesion and Human Resources (social infrastructure, digital transition skills in vulnerable population groups, human resource attraction and training, etc.).
-Development Coordination and Financing (NSRF, EPA, Recovery Fund, participation of local bodies, etc.).
According to the organizers, the conference will be an opportunity to highlight the Ionian Islands Region as a model of island development, strengthen its extroversion and produce documented policy and project proposals. At the same time, it will offer citizens the opportunity to follow the Conference’s presentations, as participation will be free.
