BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. Preparations are
underway in Azerbaijan for the implementation of environmental and
infrastructure projects under public-private partnerships, Gunel
Guliyeva, Head of the Division for International Cooperation with
Investment Funds and Donors at the Department for Cooperation with
International Financial Organizations and Investment Funds of the
Ministry of Economy, said, Trend reports.
Addressing the panel discussion “Tackling plastic pollution:
promoting liveable cities and a circular economy” as part of WUF13,
Guliyeva noted that the seawater purification project marked the
first important step in the development of public-private
partnerships.
“This project has opened the door for subsequent initiatives,”
she added.
According to Gulieva, preparations are underway to formulate
policy guidelines for public-private partnership projects, which
will be implemented by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2025 and
subsequent years.
“In this context, preparations are being made to implement new
projects based on cooperation with other institutions,” she
emphasized.
The department head noted that development in this area is
planned to be accelerated not only through the state budget but
also by leveraging the financial capabilities of the private
sector.
“Involving the private sector in the process through
public-private partnerships is of great importance,” Guliyeva
emphasized.
Today, the fourth day of the WUF13 conference is taking place in
Baku.
The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.
The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.
The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.
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.
