 A high level delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Urban Affairs and the Environment Mr. Pedro da Mota Liz, visited UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Mrs Tibaijuka to discuss this year’s Global Observance of World Habitat Day and enhanced collaboration on housing and urban development projects.
Welcoming the delegation, Mrs. Tibaijuka conveyed her thanks to the Government of Angola for hosting the Global Observance of World Habitat Day and expressed her appreciation for the high level representation at the celebrations, which will be presided over by the President of Angola, Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos. She said that Luanda was only the second African city to host the Global Observance of World Habitat Day, which this year will take place on 6 October 2008. The Executive Director added that she looked forward to seeing the many new developments and efforts by the Government to provide social housing, improve schools, and build roads and other infrastructure in Luanda and other towns and cities of Angola, when she visits Angola in October. The meeting also discussed collaboration between UN-HABITAT and Angola to support the human settlements revolution in the country. Angola welcomed the offer of technical and capacity building support from UN-HABITAT for sustainable urban development programmes such as slum upgrading, provision of social housing and programmes to support the internally displaced affected by the long conflict in Angola. Stressing the need for inclusive urban development, Mrs. Tibaijuka invited Angola to send representatives to the World Urban Forum, which takes place in the city of Nanjing, China from 3-6 November 2008. The Forum would be preceded by a study tour to selected Chinese cites to enable delegates from different countries to learn from the many good examples of planned urban development in a rapidly urbanizing environment. The Global Observance in Angola will take place at the Talatona International Conference Centre and will be attended by local and international participants from all sectors including governments, municipalities, parliamentarians, civil society organizations and the private sector to discuss the theme of Harmonious Cities. |
