“Cities are important engines of growth”: Noh

KUALA LUMPUR: Cities and territories should be designed innovatively with a long-term vision of a sound green economy, protection of cultures and inclusive cities for all, says Tan Sri Noh Omar in World Urban Forum.

A non-legislative forum, themed ‘Cities 2030, Cities for All: Implementing the New  Urban Agenda’, began on February 7 and will go on until February 13.The week-long forum have gathered about 25,000 people from 194 countries at a place.

The Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister said that 50% of population is living in urban areas, which is the most transformative trend and it will have a great effect on socio-economic aspects.

He also committed to support and implement the Sustainable Development Goals objectives and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) action plans to ensure the safety of cities as he acknowledges the cities as important engines of growth.

Noh said this forum is also a platform to discuss and present commitments, strategies, and innovations, identify institutional roles, as well as pursue partnerships, in the implementation of the NUA.

He said all implementing agencies must understand their roles in achieving a common goal and coordinate their efforts through inter-­ministerial, regional and local government committees.

WUF 9 is a platform which brings thousands of stakeholders to share practices and knowledge on how cities are built, planned and managed.

“The Grassroots Assembly is the first and I am happy it is birthed in Kuala Lumpur”.

“The Joint Assembly is a pivotal activity intended to showcase and accelerate leadership in grassroots communities to improve the quality of life in their settlements and cities,” he added.

Noh hoped that the assemblies would come up with practical and strategic actions to improve living and working conditions in informal settlements and economy, as well as ensure that urban poor communities were well organised and taken care of.