The prize-giving took place in the Framework of the events organized on the occasion of the World Cities Summit 2010 (WCS) held in Singapore until Thursday.

The Mayor of Bilbao, Mr. Iñaki Azkuna receives in the name of the City the First Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, considered as the “Nobel Prize” For the cities. The prize-giving is part of the events organized on the occasion of the World Cities Summit 2010 (WCS) that will be held until Thursday in Singapore, an international event, centred in issues such as leadership and urban management, besides the construction of sustainable cities, respectful with the environment and the adoption of harmonious and sustainable communities.

The prize-giving of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize and the Gala dinner that will be offered to the 1.000 international delegates that take part of the World Cities Summit 2010 (WCS) will be held under the presidency of Singapore´s Mentor Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize recognizes the leadership capacity of Bilbao´s City Council to bring together the different visions and strategic objectives of institutions and public and private organisms in the transformation process of the City, through the institutional Society Bilbao Ría 2000.

Organized jointly by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is centred in 4 key elements: the habitability, the vitality, the sustainability and quality of life.

Bilbao has obtained this First Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize competing against 78 candidate cities from all over the world. The selection process was made in at two levels, through a Candidatures Committee and a Prize Committee. Both juries were particularly impressed by what Bilbao has achieved in a short period of time of 25 years, regarding the improvement of the environment and the quality of life, the social cohesion, the cultural dynamism and the economic competitiveness.

A small exhibition space prepared on the occasion of the World Cities Summit 2010 (WCS) shows the urban transformation process of Bilbao and the other three finalist cities of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize: Melbourne (Australia), Curitiba-Paraná (Brazil) and New Delhi (India).