Katja Schafer: Baku impressed WUF13 participants with its development and hospitality

Baku today inspires the world with its approach to urbanization and sustainable urban development, becoming an important international platform for exchanging experiences in this area, UN-Habitat Interregional Advisor Katja Schafer told Report on the sidelines of WUF13 in Baku.

According to her, WUF13 has become an important platform for participants to exchange experiences in urbanization and sustainable urban development.

"Baku impressed forum participants with both its urban development and its hospitality. Baku, the pearl of the Caspian, is now welcoming the entire world and demonstrating the development of your country. People will return to their countries with very positive impressions, both from the warm welcome and from the experience they gained here," Schafer noted.

She emphasized that issues of urban development and sustainable urbanization in the SPECA region were widely discussed at the forum.

According to a UN-Habitat representative, six cities, including Ganja, led the initiative to establish the SPECA Forum and shared their experiences.

"These cities are learning from each other and also facilitating greater cooperation in the Central Asian region and along the Middle Corridor," said Schafer.

She noted that one of the key outcomes of WUF13 will be the continuation of the regional dialogue on urbanization issues.

"We must continue working together to improve people's quality of life, provide affordable and adequate housing, enhance the resilience of cities to climate change, and strengthen their ability to withstand economic challenges," the UN-Habitat representative emphasized.

Schafer also announced that she plans to visit Ganja next week to explore the city better.