(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ABU DHABI, Feb 8 (KUNA) -- The Tenth World Urban Forum (WUF-10) opened at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on Saturday as part of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) efforts to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.
The forum, being held under auspices of Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan - the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, gathers nearly 20,000 guests from 160 countries, including 100 ministers.
The State of Kuwait is represented at the six-day event by Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Population Affairs Dr. Rana Al-Fares.
WUF-10, the first such gathering in the Arab world, is co-organized by the UAE Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), and the UN-Habitat; its official opening ceremony is due tomorrow, Sunday.
The first day of the Forum's activities saw a special flag-raising function with the flags of both the UAE and UN being carried out in tandem, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
The flag-raising ceremony was attended by Maimunah Sharif, Executive Director of the UN-Habitat; Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the DMT; and Mohammad Al-Khadar Al-Ahmad, Executive Director of Strategic Affairs of the DMT and General Coordinator of the 10th World Urban Forum.
Other first-day activities included a business assembly which focused upon the potential of the business community to deliver on urban development objectives and ways that the business community can be constructively engaged in strategic development planning.
The conversation focused upon traditional business sectors including, real estate, transport, construction, technology, industry, commonly engaged in urban development - to now engaging financial institutions, including banks, and private equity/equity markets in redefining how to shift their fiscal priorities towards sustainable urbanization.
A third event was the women's assembly - a key meeting point for groups working to build sustainable, gender-responsive and inclusive cities.
It served as a space to share and report on the role women play in culture and innovation in "Cities of Opportunities."
Promoting participation, dialogue and engagement, the assembly included trainings, plenary sessions, networking opportunities, and brought together specialists on gender equality and innovation in sustainable urban development.
The Urban Youth Assembly is being held at a critical point in time for sustainable urbanization.
The Climate Emergency has meant that young people, led by Greta Thunberg, have protested globally against climate change inaction.
This assembly addressed inequality and the failure of governance at all levels to address climate change, with youth and their use of culture in all its forms being a driving force for change, according to WAM.
The Grassroots Assembly provided a platform to give voice to communities including, the most vulnerable to provide inputs into the accelerated implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the "Urban Goal," SDG11.
In line with the theme of the World Urban Forum "Connecting Culture and Innovation", the grassroots assembly provided a platform for grassroots organizations, community leaders and their partners to reflect on the needs and opportunities to ensure that local knowledge, innovations, and diversity are always taken into consideration in the development agenda.
The World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments addressed how cities are connecting culture and innovation as key tools to implement both the New Urban Agenda and Agenda 2030, as well as how local and regional governments are pioneers in highlighting the role of culture in sustainable urban development.
The hosting of WUF-10 presents a significant opportunity for Abu Dhabi and the UAE to showcase its achievements and role in promoting and implementing sustainable urban development, as Abu Dhabi continues to take considerable steps towards being at the forefront of smart and sustainable cities.
The forum provides a platform for decision-makers, businesses, urban experts and academics to share their expertise and create sustainable urban development and smart cities of the future.
As the host city, Abu Dhabi aims to make WUF-10 the most attended and diverse World Urban Forum, since its establishment in 2001. (end)
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