A delegation of Barcelona Municipality has visited Saida from 26 to 30 January as part of the two technical assessment missions that the USUDS project plans with experts from the cities of Barcelona and Marseille.

The objectives of the mission were to identify the elements that will be dealt with in the context of the USUDS project assessment, collect technical and urban information of the port and its environment, and to meet and exchange information with those involved in the definition of the new maritime front. The cooperation between the two municipalities will be focused on linking the Old City and the maritime front, in order to boost the area as a new and dynamic public space, which is one of the main priorities identified in Saida Strategic Development Plan. The meetings conducted during the technical visit were with the Mayor of Saida Mr. Mohamed Seoudi, Parliament Member Mrs. Bahia Hariri, members of the Municipal Council, representatives of Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, and municipal or external experts, especially engineers.

The delegation of the Barcelona Municipality was composed by Carles Casamor, architect and Director of Urban Projects in Hàbitat Urbà, Sandra Bestraten, architect and professor of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and Jordi Cortés, representative of the International Cooperation Department. The delegation has reiterated its commitment to providing technical assistance through USUDS project and MedCities participation, and to conduct additional missions and meetings between the two municipalities.

As a result of the assessment, the two municipal teams will work together in order to define some initial proposals on the integral remodeling of the maritime front and promenade. Another technical mission is foreseen in order to develop the proposals, and a process of consultation will be followed. The final outcome of this work will be presented to the representatives of Saida Municipality in May 2014.