BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. Special attention must be paid to water resources issues in urban development, Dilfuza Shiriyeva, a representative of the State Committee for Construction of City of Arkadag under the President of Turkmenistan, told Trend on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.
She shared her experience of participating in an international forum and discussed key priorities in modern urban development.
Shiriyeva noted that participating in the forum was her first experience of its kind, and the organization of the event in Baku received high praise. She emphasized the broad representation of countries and the opportunity for an open exchange of opinions in an informal and professional atmosphere.
"Many countries are represented here, including some we may not have heard about very often. This is an important platform for exchanging experiences," she said.
Responding to a question about urban development priorities for the next 10 years, she highlighted environmental friendliness and safety as key areas. Particular attention, she said, needs to be paid to water resources and their rational use.
As an example, she cited practices implemented in Turkmenistan, including rainwater collection and reuse systems for irrigating green spaces.
"Speaking about the Arkadag city project, I would like to
emphasize that it's the first 'smart city' in Turkmenistan built
from scratch, which has enabled the implementation of modern
environmental and infrastructure solutions – from wastewater
treatment facilities to eco-friendly transportation, including
electric buses and eco-taxis," said Shiriyeva.
She called for active participation in such international forums,
emphasizing their importance for professional growth and the
exchange of experience between countries.
Today marks the fifth day of WUF13 in Baku.
The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and Azerbaijani flags also took place.
The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit, featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin American region and preparing for WUF14.
The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and sustainable transport.
One of the highlights of the third day was the signing of a sister-city memorandum between the Azerbaijani city of Shusha and the Turkish city of Trabzon.
The fourth day of WUF13 featured a broad program of events dedicated to urbanization, climate change, inclusive urban development, housing policy, and sustainable governance.
One of the important events of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Cities Forum, held on the fourth day, was the announcement of Almaty’s official accession to the “Declaration of Intent on the Establishment of the SPECA Smart Climate-Resilient Cities Forum.”
Also, for the first time in WUF history and at Azerbaijan’s initiative, the “WUF13 NGO Forum: Global Partnership and Decision-Making” was held.
WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” the forum brings together governments, international organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.
