BRICS SUMMIT INAUGURATED TODAY IN VIZAG

The city of Visakhapatnam is now hosting the 3rd BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Urbanization forum on Wednesday with the GVMC hosting it and Union Minister of Urban Development Mr. M Venkaiah Naidu being the chief guest and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. N.Chandrababu Naidu delivering the keynote address.

The Union Ministry of Urban Development and National Institute of Urban Affairs shall be the knowledge partners for this 3-day mega event and a total of 72 international delegates are participating in the summit from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa while another 259 are coming from various parts of the country. Together with the participants from Andhra Pradesh, around 450 delegates are expected to participate in the summit.

The delegates will discuss investments, urbanization, formation of new cities and policies and they will explore the solutions to various challenges. The conference will discuss, among other things, separate urban finance system and creation of employment opportunities, inclusive housing and informal economies, climate change, resilient water and sanitation management, new towns and regional planning and urban renaissance: new reform agenda in the plenary sessions over the three days.

“Mayors and Municipal Commissioners and officials related to urban affairs from all over the country are also attending and challenges in city planning, public health and waste management would also be deliberated upon”, said HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao after a review of the arrangements on Tuesday.

The delegates are being given booklets on the opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and tourism potential including that of Visakhapatnam and surrounding areas. Secretary for Economic Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Amar Sinha, and Union Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba will participate in the inaugural programme.