Private sector participation hits record high at WUF13 in Baku

The 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku has recorded its highest-ever participation from the private sector compared to previous editions, according to an Azerbaijani official.

Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy National Coordinator of WUF13 and Deputy Chief of Staff of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, made the remarks during an event held on the sidelines of the forum, Caliber.Az informs per local media.

She said that private sector engagement accounted for more than 11% of all physical participants at the forum.

"The private sector is truly a vital player in any city. Yesterday's statistics showed that over 11% of total participants – not online registrants, but those physically present – were from the private sector. This is an excellent figure and a remarkable achievement. We broke the record of previous WUFs. If national governments accounted for 16% of representation, followed by academia with its research contributions, then 11% from the private sector is indeed a significant number," she explained.

Rzayeva also emphasised the broader importance of urban planning in shaping quality of life and human experience in cities.

"How cities are planned and designed is extremely important. Urban planning shapes not only the physical environment but also the way people experience their lives. It determines whether their quality of life is high or at least satisfactory," she added. 

By Sabina Mammadli