Global experts highlight shared urbanisation challenges at WUF13 forum in Baku PHOTO

The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku, has brought together policymakers, planners and experts to discuss urban development, housing policy and sustainable city design, with participants highlighting opportunities for international cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Sanjay Kulshrestha, Managing Director of India’s Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO), said there is strong potential for deeper collaboration between India and Azerbaijan in urban planning, infrastructure development and technology exchange.

He noted that both countries face comparable urbanisation challenges while also possessing advanced metropolitan systems.

“Cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have large-scale and diverse infrastructure. Therefore, our countries are broadly comparable, and there is significant potential for exchanging technologies, planning expertise and cooperation,” he said.

Kulshrestha also praised the urban layout of the Azerbaijani capital, describing it as particularly well planned following a visit to the city.

“Your city is very well planned. I can say it is one of the best-planned cities I have seen. It has some of the best infrastructure,” he added.

The forum was also used as a platform for broader international engagement. Amir Raza, Director of the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA), said WUF13 plays an important role in enabling countries to share experience and adopt effective urbanisation models.

He added that participation allows countries such as Pakistan to present their own projects while learning from global best practices, calling it a mutually beneficial process.

Separately, Abdillahi Ibrahim, a representative of Djibouti’s National Agency for Persons with Disabilities stressed the importance of inclusive urban development, saying the needs of persons with disabilities must be fully integrated into city planning.

He underlined that accessible infrastructure is essential to ensure equal participation in urban life, adding that inclusivity should be a core element of global urban policy discussions.

“WUF13 serves as a crucial platform bringing together representatives from different countries to discuss ways of addressing global challenges,” said Alessandro Attolico, project manager at DesirMED - Demonstration and mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilient transformation in the Mediterranean for the Potenza region of Italy.

He noted that the forum plays an important role in facilitating the exchange of experience and the study of different countries’ approaches to urban development.

“We are here to share our experience and learn from others. Our goal is to improve our work and contribute to a safer and more sustainable world,” Attolico added.

Another participant, Bado Bashu, said WUF13 plays a significant role in strengthening international cooperation on global urban challenges. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s role as host, describing it as important for shaping discussions and supporting practical outcomes from the forum.

Together, participants at WUF13 emphasised the growing importance of collaborative approaches to urban development, with Baku serving as a focal point for dialogue on sustainable, inclusive and future-ready cities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev