India Pavilion at 13th World Urban Forum in Baku inaugurated by Ambassador Abhay Kumar
Baku, May 18
The India Pavilion at the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku was officially inaugurated on Monday by India's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar.
The India Pavilion, set up by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the theme 'India's Urban Transformation: Housing a Billion Dreams', showcases India's urban transformation journey. It highlights how national, state, and city-level initiatives are translating the aspirations of a billion people into reality through innovative urban policies, programmes, and partnerships.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ambassador Abhay Kumar underscored India's commitment and efforts towards building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.
The India Pavilion also serves as a platform for delegates to learn, discuss, collaborate, and exchange innovative ideas among global partners and urban stakeholders. Ambassador Kumar had an engaging conversation with exhibitors and participants on various aspects of urban development.
The India Pavilion, a premier showcase for the country's urban development vision, provides insight into key flagship initiatives, including Housing for All (PMAY), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and the National Urban Livelihoods Mission, including PM SVANidhi. These highlight integrated approaches addressing housing, infrastructure, livelihoods, and resilience, while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda.
The exhibition space includes curated displays illustrating how cities are localising SDGs through innovation, data-driven governance, climate action, and community participation.
Interactive installations also engage visitors, inviting them to share ideas for inclusive and resilient cities, helping build a collective vision of future urban development.
The main objective of the India Pavilion is to demonstrate how India created an enabling ecosystem to influence multiple stakeholders in various ways to develop urban structures for the future.
This approach can aid in effectively planning and managing urban challenges and ensure that Indian cities advance towards spatial, social, and economic inclusivity.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive branding but ground reality is different. While Swachh Bharat has improved cleanliness, housing for all still has a long way to go in rural-urban fringes. I hope we focus on implementation too.
Good to see Ambassador Abhay Kumar engaging with global partners. Urban planning needs international collaboration, especially for climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure. Hope we learn from best practices too!
Interesting to see India's urban story at a global forum. The SDG localization and data-driven governance angle is very relevant. As an urban planner, I'm curious about the interactive installations—wish I could visit!
India's urban transformation is real, but we need to address the informal sector better. PM SVANidhi is a good start for street vendors, but millions still lack basic amenities. Let's ensure 'Housing a Billion Dreams' doesn't remain just a theme.
Great to see Indian cities represented at the World Urban Forum! The focus on inclusivity and resilience is exactly what urban development needs. Baku is an interesting venue too for such dialogue.
Kudos to the Ministry for this initiative! The smart cities mission has its critics, but in my city, we've seen better waste management and digital services. One step at a
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