Azerbaijan holds another Organizing Committee meeting ahead of WUF13 PHOTO

Another meeting of the Organizing Committee for the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) was held on March 4.

Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, opened the session, noting that “urban planning is regarded by the President of Azerbaijan as a major strategic priority in the country’s socio-economic agenda.” He added that declaring 2026 the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” underscores the continued importance attached to the sector, Caliber.Az reports.

The Committee Chairman emphasized that “ongoing, goal-oriented steps taken under the leadership of the president to promote balanced growth of the capital and the regions, along with sustainable settlement, play a key role in Azerbaijan’s comprehensive development.”

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s engagement with global urban development trends, Nuriyev stressed that the country “has promoted innovative approaches in the sector and successfully implemented them in practice.” He pointed to large-scale reconstruction and development efforts in the Garabagh and East Zangezur economic regions, describing them as “unique in the world for their scale and pace” and as “the most vivid demonstration of these efforts.”

Looking ahead to the WUF13, scheduled to be held in Baku in May 2026, Nuriyev noted that the event “has already garnered considerable international interest” and will serve as a platform to present “Azerbaijan’s conceptual approach to urban development, including the practical experiences applied in the liberated territories on an international stage.”

Committee members also delivered reports covering progress in general preparations, as well as substantive, communication, and organizational-logistical work.

Concluding the meeting, the Chairman issued instructions regarding the WUF13 preparation process, including implementation of the Action Plan and other tasks in line with the President’s directives, aimed at ensuring “the successful organization and high-level execution of the event.”

By Vafa Guliyeva