Selja calls for sustaining Asia-Pacific Housing Initiative

New Delhi, Feb 4 (UNI) India has said the setting up of the Bureau of Asia Pacific Ministers Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) has laid a strong foundation for consolidating and sustaining the initiative.

Addressing a meeting of the Bureau at Tehran, its Chairperson and Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ms Selja said during the short period of just over a year, the Secretariat has been able to made major initial steps for institutionalising the set up.

She assured complete support of the secretariat in the organisation of the 2nd Conference of the APMCHUD to be held in Tehran, an official release here said.

Ms Selja complemented the Government of Iran for the meticulous planning and preparation for the forthcoming Conference which she felt would facilitate in evolving a focused and synergic approach for addressing the daunting challenges of the sector in the region.

The APMCHUD is a joint initiative of the countries of the Asia Pacific Region to mainstream the concerns of housing and urban development in respective countries for improving the quality of life of the citizens of the Asia pacific region and to ensure sustainable development at large.

India is the Chair of the Bureau represented by seven countries namely Iran, China, Jordan, Malaysia, Azerbaijan and Papua New Guinea besides India, representing various sub-regions of the Asia pacific.

The meeting was hosted by Mohammed Saidi Kia, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, of Iran.

Manoucher Kajeh Daloui, Vice Minister for Housing and Cities of Iran commended the efforts of India for the specific thrust given to the initiatives of APMCHUD. He said the forthcoming 2nd Conference of the APMCHUD would lay a firm foundation to carry forward the initiatives and objectives enshrined in the Delhi Declaration.

The Iranian delegation made a detailed presentation on the status of preparation for the 2nd conference of APMCHUD .

The Chief Coordinator of the Bureau and Joint Secretary (Housing), Sunil Kumar Singh briefed the Bureau on the initiatives made by the Executive Secretariat for establishing a mechanism for supporting the APMCHUD towards achieving its objectives.

The representative from UN-Habitat Markandey Rai assured complete support of UN-Habitat to APMCHUD and the Government of Iran in organising the conference at Tehran.

UNI NAZ YA RN1752