RAMALLAH, September 29, 2918 (WAFA) - The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the International City Management Association (ICMA) to be the first Arab group to join the organization, according to a press statement published on Saturday.

Abdullah Anati, of APLA and Mark Otte, of ICMA, signed the agreement on the sidelines of the annual ICMA conference held in Baltimore, in the United States.

According to the agreement, the two associations will be committed to strengthening the relationship and partnership between them through specific activities such as participating in the annual conferences of each association, hosting representatives and speakers from each association during the annual conferences, assisting in organizing joint conferences through specialized committees, partnership in exchanging expertize and partnership in obtaining funding and implementing joint projects.

ICMA, a leading association of local government professionals, is dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world by working with more than 12,000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices in order to improve the lives of residents.  ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world.

M.K.