Engineer Randa El Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, attended the opening session of the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which is being held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, a number of heads of state and government, ministers, and representatives of regional and international organizations, in addition to a distinguished group of experts and specialists in sustainable housing and urban development from countries around the world.

The Minister of Housing stated that the Egyptian state, under the leadership of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, gives great attention to the urban development sector, highlighting that the past years have seen an unprecedented expansion in the establishment of new cities, infrastructure development, and housing projects, all of which have contributed to enhancing quality of life and achieving balanced development.

Engineer Randa El Menshawy explained that Egypt’s participation in the World Urban Forum falls within the framework of enhancing international cooperation and exchanging expertise in sustainable urban development fields, as well as presenting Egypt’s experience in implementing major national projects, especially new and smart cities, the development of unsafe areas, and the expansion of suitable housing opportunities for various segments of society.

Engineer Randa El Menshawy also stressed that the forum serves as a significant international platform for discussing global urban challenges and identifying mechanisms for achieving sustainable development in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda, while underscoring the importance of strengthening international partnerships and sharing successful experiences in urban planning and city management.