Laura Puttkamer: Baku deserves highest praise for organizing WUF13

The organization of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku deserves the highest praise, while the flawless work of local volunteers has become one of the event's strongest points.

Report informs that Laura Puttkamer, a journalist at Urban Solutions Journal, said this at a press conference held as part of WUF13.

The journalist noted that she has already worked at four WUF forums during her career, but the Baku summit stands out for its atmosphere.

"Credit must be given to Baku for such high-quality preparation. I would especially like to emphasize the role of volunteers - they are simply amazing. Their friendliness and sincere willingness to help create a comfortable environment for every delegate," Puttkamer shared her impressions.

She also noted the forum's convenient transport accessibility and the opportunity to better feel the rhythm of city life. According to her, while at the previous forum in Cairo the conference center was isolated and located far from residential areas, in Azerbaijan's capital participants can easily use the metro and actively interact with the urban environment.

Laura Puttkamer also added that Baku made a strong impression on her thanks to its combination of urbanism and nature, in particular its proximity to the Caspian Sea. She said she plans to take part in a press event involving a visit to the Caspian coast, and noted the importance of such an experience for understanding urban development and environmental transformation.

According to Puttkamer, Baku has managed to make noticeable progress in cleaning up certain sections of the Caspian Sea despite existing environmental challenges.

She also named affordable housing as one of the most important topics at the current forum and recommended visiting the Urban Expo, which presents 171 examples of inclusive and sustainable housing.