Mthobeli Kolisa: Baku hosts key discussions on urban governance

Baku is hosting important discussions on urban governance, Mthobeli Kolisa, CEO of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), told Report during the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

Kolisa highlighted the importance of global platforms for experience sharing: "We believe such a forum is crucial because countries face different challenges in urban governance. Sharing knowledge and expertise is vital to better manage urban development. I am confident that bringing together specialists in urban governance and exchanging experiences, especially in the context of rapid urbanization and climate change, will provide new ideas to help us manage urban growth more effectively. This way, we can achieve what we call the ‘urban dividend,' which the world has not fully benefited from yet, as rapid urbanization and climate change have somewhat overtaken us."

The CEO also praised the high‑level organization and hospitality in Baku: "Baku has done an amazing job in terms of hospitality. Like other delegates from around the world, we feel very well received here. The hotels are excellent, and the transport system is of high quality. This is truly the right place to host such an event. We had previously attended a COP event here and saw the same level of organization. That's why we were confident Baku would succeed again."