AMMAN: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, took part in the 38th session of the Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction Conference and the opening session of the 4th Arab Ministerial Forum for Housing and Urban Development.
The 3-day event is hosted by the Jordanian capital Amman, in cooperation with the Arab League.
The Sultanate of Oman was represented in the conference by Dr Khalfan bin Said al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning.
The forum discusses 4 main themes: the legislative environment to regulate the growth and resilience of cities, urban planning and city resilience, humanization of cities, and the role of partners in preserving cities. Specialized technical sessions will review the most important issues in each theme.
An open discussion will be organized after each session, in which specialists and experts from all authorities concerned with housing and sustainable urban development will be invited.
Dr Bisher al Khasawneh, Jordanian Prime Minister and the chief guest of the conference opening ceremony, said that the 4th Ministerial Forum comes in line with the challenges that the world is going through.
He added that these challenges are represented in the economic conditions, regional and international conflicts, climate change, lack of resources, and the Covid-19 pandemic, which continues until today to be an obstacle against achieving most of the sustainable development goals.
On his turn, Rachid Khattabi said in his speech on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, “The 4th Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development will enable everyone to review the state of Arab cities and the challenges they face through the increasing climatic impacts, the rising number of natural and human disasters, epidemics and diseases”.
On the sidelines of the conference, an exhibition was inaugurated on the best experiences and practices of countries and governments and innovative technologies in the field of construction and renewable energy. — ONA
