BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Azerbaijan has managed to reduce poverty from 49% to 5% in less than 20 years, the country's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said, Trend reports.
He made the announcement at the event “Cities at the Center of Connectivity: Urban Reconstruction and Regional Cooperation, held as part of WUF13.
The minister noted the need to establish a link between the economic development of cities and transportation infrastructure, as well as the fact that the main goal of all these processes should be to improve the well-being of the population.
Jabbarov emphasized that Baku has historically been a city located at the crossroads of civilizations, trade routes, and cultures, and continues to play this role today. In his speech, Jabbarov addressed the role of Baku and Sumgait as the country’s largest metropolitan and economic centers, the liberated territories, other regions of Azerbaijan, as well as the functions of governments and cities.
The minister added that Azerbaijan has also resolved one of the most complex and protracted territorial conflicts in the region.
Meanwhile, the third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is underway in Baku.
On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework of the forum.
The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin American region and preparing for WUF14.
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.
