Colombia's Deputy Minister: I really liked Baku, and I want to come back here with my family

Azerbaijan has once again confirmed its status as a country capable of organizing major international events, successfully bringing together representatives of governments, international organizations, and experts in the field of sustainable urban development on a single platform. Participants of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which concludes its work in Baku today, repeatedly emphasized over the 6 days of the forum the relevance of the topics discussed - from affordable housing and climate resilience to social inclusion and modernization of urban infrastructure.

Against the backdrop of these discussions, the experience of countries implementing new approaches to housing policy attracted particular interest. In an interview with Report, Deputy Minister of Housing, Cities and Territories of Colombia Aide Marsilla Bello spoke about the main objectives of the Colombian delegation's participation in the forum, shared her impressions of Baku, and highlighted the prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Colombia in the areas of housing improvement and sustainable urban development.

- What outcomes does Colombia expect from the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13)?

- I would say that for us, it is not so much about specific outcomes as about the opportunity to demonstrate the experience that our country is currently undergoing in the process of transforming housing policy. When the current government came to power, housing policy was focused almost exclusively on providing subsidies for the purchase of new housing.

However, the needs of Colombia's population are much broader and more diverse. Therefore, in recent years, we have expanded our approach to housing policy and begun promoting the concept of habitat. At the center of this policy is water - the need to organize cities around water resources. Overall, within our concept, we view water as a common good that needs to be protected and as a factor shaping urban development.

We want to show how we are transitioning from a policy based exclusively on construction, square meters, and concrete to a comprehensive habitat policy that places communities of people at its center and strives to find a balance between sustainability and how humanity lives and develops. This is precisely our main objective.

- What impressions have you formed of Baku?

- I will say frankly: I really liked your city. Baku struck me as a beautiful city where different cultures intertwine - that is exactly the impression it made on me. You have a very interesting history. Despite the fact that Azerbaijan is a relatively young state, the country possesses a rich historical heritage.

The architecture, the urban environment, the landmarks - all of this is very interesting. I also liked that the country is open to the world and strives to be recognized. For us (Colombia - ed.), Azerbaijan seems like a very distant country, but after this trip, I wanted to come back here with my family. In fact