On October 2, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, for the first time hosted the World Habitat Day organized within the framework of the "Urban Planning Week 2023" with the cooperation of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) and the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

At the event, which was attended by government officials and experts from around the world, the executive director of the UN settlement program, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, delivered a welcoming speech and brought to the attention of the participants the address of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Then the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs and Innovative Development Policy of the Presidential Administration, Shahmar Movsumov, and the Chairman of the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Anar Guliyev, made a welcome speech.

In the speeches, the importance of sustainable settlement was touched upon. The fact that Baku is hosting such a prestigious event was highly appreciated, and the current pace of the capital development was talked about. It was also noted that urban planning and urban development play an important role in achieving sustainable development. Against the backdrop of sustainable global urbanization trends, the specific challenges and opportunities that each country faces further increase the importance of development programs. One of these countries is Azerbaijan.

At the same time, it was mentioned about the Urban Planning Policy and the scale of the design work carried out in the liberated territories of our country.

After the speeches of international and national experts on urban planning, the presentation of special awards of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) for 2023 took place. The recipients of the awards expressed their heartfelt words.

As part of the discussion of the topic “Sustainable urban economy. Cities as the leading force of development and reconstruction” the tasks of sustainable urban development and ensuring quality urban life for all were considered, an exchange of views took place on the leading role of cities in national and regional socio-economic sustainable development, urban reconstruction in the post-conflict period.

It should be recalled that since September 29, in Azerbaijan, with the cooperation of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, the “Urban Planning Week 2023” is being held to discuss important processes of sustainable urbanization. Within the framework of the week, a number of high-level events were held, including the 2nd National Urban Forum (NUFA2) on “Sustainable cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities” in Zangiland and Baku.

It should be noted that at the 2nd Session of the UN settlement program (UN-HABITAT) Assembly in Kenya, a decision was made to celebrate the World Habitat Day in Baku in 2023. According to the relevant UN resolution adopted in 1985, the World Habitat Day is celebrated annually in one country, promoting accessible and quality urban life for all, and serving as a global platform for discussing challenges for sustainable urban development.