The next meeting of the Organizing Committee established in connection with the organization of the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum of the United Nations (WUF13 Azerbaijan) was held on March 4.

 

Opening the meeting, the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Samir Nuriyev, emphasized that urban planning activities have been identified by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan as one of the main strategic priorities of the state’s socio-economic policy. He noted that the declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” in the country is another indication of the importance attached to the field of urban development.

 

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee highlighted that the consistent and purposeful measures implemented under the leadership of the head of state to ensure the balanced development of the capital and regions, as well as to promote sustainable settlement, play an important role in the comprehensive development of the country.

 

Samir Nuriyev stated that Azerbaijan, as a country that closely follows global urban development processes, puts forward innovative approaches in this field and successfully applies them in practice. In this regard, he noted that the large-scale reconstruction and development process being implemented in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions — one of the rare examples globally in terms of its scale, scope, and pace — is the most vivid manifestation of this approach. He also stressed that WUF13, which will be held in Baku in May 2026 and has already attracted significant international interest, will serve as a platform to present Azerbaijan’s conceptual approach to urban planning, including the practical experience applied in the liberated territories, to the international community.

 

Afterwards, members of the Organizing Committee delivered reports on the current status of preparations for WUF13, substantive issues, communication efforts, organizational and logistical matters, as well as other issues included on the agenda.

 

At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee gave instructions to the participants, based on the tasks set by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the organization of WUF13 at a high level, emphasizing that all work should be carried out in a timely, high-quality, and comprehensive manner.