BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. While preparing
global regulations and new rules, an infrastructure should not be
built in such a way that it later becomes neither affordable nor
useful for the lower-income segments of society, the Country
Manager of the UN Global Compact for Azerbaijan, Samir Mammadov,
said at the Business Assembly session, held within the framework of
WUF13 in Baku, Trend
reports.


Mammadov stated that the main lagging issue in this part of the
world is the formation of demand. Regulatory bodies already
understand the situation, and the business sector is preparing.
Whether this is happening out of emotional responsibility or
commercial interest is a separate topic, but business is adapting
fast enough.


"However, I think that the user and consumer side has not
reached this stage yet. This is precisely the main missing link. We
sometimes assume that everyone understands these issues and that
people are expecting affordable, 'green', and sustainable housing.
The reality is different. Even the terminology itself is not
accessible to people," Mammadov said.


"For this reason, one of the primary areas to focus on is
community awareness. It should be explained to people what
challenges exist, what changes are taking place, and what awaits
them. Demand management needs to be shaped. When talking to
business representatives, they often say 'there is no demand,' and
frankly speaking, they are not entirely wrong. Therefore, one of
the directions requiring attention is preparing the mindset of
communities, ordinary citizens, and end users."







Mammadov emphasized that the installment purchase system for
real estate is becoming widespread, particularly in the Eurasian
region.


"The reduction of initial costs, the importance of long-term
maintenance, and utility expenses have not yet been fully explained
and presented to people," he noted. "I think the main breakthrough
will happen exactly at this stage. Afterwards, policymakers will,
in turn, approach the private sector for consultations."


"Only then will the natural process kick off. Otherwise, it will
not be enough if only activists or regulatory bodies attempt to
enforce this approach," Mammadov concluded.