On May 13, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources hosted a roundtable titled "The Place and Role of Mining Operations in Urban Planning Solutions" ahead of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).

The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology Committee of the Milli Majlis, The Caspian Post reports, citing Report.

Participants included Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rashad Ismayilov, Chairman of the parliamentary committee Sadig Gurbanov, Chair of the Family, Women and Children Affairs Committee Hijran Huseynova, members of parliament Fatma Yildirim, Afat Hasanova, Asif Asgarov, Eyvaz Gurbanov, and Nigar Arpadarai, as well as government officials, representatives of mining companies, and industry experts.

During the event, speakers emphasized that the World Urban Forum is one of the strategically important global platforms in terms of its scope and content.

It was noted that hosting the event in Baku demonstrates Azerbaijan's growing leadership not only regionally but also globally in the fields of urban planning, sustainability, and environmental protection.

Participants also highlighted that urban development programs, modern infrastructure projects, and reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev have turned Azerbaijan into a model country in the region in this field.

The discussions focused on the impact of mining activities on urbanization and city planning processes, reducing the environmental risks of industrial waste, sustainable management mechanisms, and innovative approaches.

Experts from the State Agency for the Use of Mineral Raw Material Resources, AzerGold CJSC, and major cement producers Norm and Holcim delivered presentations during the event.

The presentations addressed the role of mining in urban planning solutions, environmental and technical approaches, and future development prospects.