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UN official: WUF13 creates important opportunities for Central Asia

Edlam Yemeru, Director of the Strategic Knowledge and Innovation Division of the UN-Habitat

17 November 2025 13:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku and Azerbaijan demonstrate a very strong vision in the field of sustainable urban development and adequate housing, said Edlam Yemeru, Director of the Strategic Knowledge and Innovation Division of the UN-Habitat (UN Human Settlements Programme), in her comments to journalists during an information session organized for members of the diplomatic corps in connection with the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), APA reports.

"Interested host countries and cities submit their applications and proposals to UN-Habitat, and UN-Habitat evaluates these applications seriously and comprehensively. One of the criteria we look at is the commitment of the host city and country to sustainable urban development, advancing resilient cities, adequate housing conditions, and similar issues. We also evaluate the host city’s and government’s ability to accommodate and provide logistics and infrastructure for participants of the World Urban Forum. Based on these criteria, it was determined that the city of Baku and Azerbaijan have fulfilled all the requirements very well.

We believe that Baku and Azerbaijan demonstrate a very strong vision in sustainable urban development and adequate housing. We also consider Baku to be a unique city and a unique venue to host the World Urban Forum. Baku combines culture with modernity, tradition with innovation, and offers numerous perspectives and solutions for sustainable urban development. That is precisely why the city of Baku and Azerbaijan were chosen as the host of the World Urban Forum.

The Forum creates important and significant opportunities not only for Azerbaijan but also for the entire Central Asian region. It is an excellent opportunity to connect with the world, to showcase Azerbaijan’s and the region’s experiences, practices, and solutions globally. It is also a strategic moment for Azerbaijan and the countries of the region to cooperate with other states and stakeholders to jointly advance sustainable urban development and adequate housing. We believe that the World Urban Forum will have a great impact in the country and the region, both in terms of policy and in promoting adequate housing and sustainable urban development,” Edlam Yemeru said.