Baku: Anar Guliyev, the National Coordinator for WUF13 and Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, announced to journalists that master plans for 68 out of 79 cities in Azerbaijan have been updated, with plans for the remaining 11 cities currently under development.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Guliyev emphasized that Baku's Master Plan, which extends the city's development strategy until 2040, exemplifies modern urban planning. This plan incorporates compact urban growth, integrated public transport, urban regeneration, and the creation of high-quality public spaces.

Guliyev highlighted that housing provision is a key priority within the urban development policy. Since the founding of the State Housing Development Agency, more than 12,000 families have received housing. He further reported that approximately $14.7 billion has been invested in infrastructure and housing projects in Garabagh and East Zangezur over the past five years, with total investments projected to reach $18 billion by 2028. These projects focus on smart infrastructure solutions, renewable energy, sustainable land use, and digital management systems.

He mentioned that over half of the territory in these regions is designated as green zones in the new spatial planning documents. Special governance mechanisms, including Presidential Special Representatives, have been set up to ensure effective restoration efforts in Garabagh.

The Chairman also noted that Azerbaijan is fast-tracking its green energy initiatives. This includes a solar power project in Garabagh in collaboration with Masdar and the Khizi-Absheron wind power plant, projected to be one of the largest renewable energy projects in the region. Consequently, the share of renewable energy in Azerbaijan is expected to rise from 13% to 38%.