Transforming Urban Landscapes: India-EU's Path to Sustainable Cities

The 4th India-EU Urban Forum highlights the significant achievements and future commitments of the EU-India partnership in sustainable urban development. Officials and experts discuss integrated approaches, transformative initiatives, and innovative financing to foster resilient and inclusive urbanization. Over €1 billion capital has been leveraged to support these efforts.

The 4th India-EU Urban Forum, building on the 2017 joint declaration for smart and sustainable urbanization, marked a milestone in the collaboration between India and the EU. The event, held on Thursday, convened Indian and EU officials, alongside experts, to deliberate on sustainable urban development strategies and reinforce the EU's global gateway strategy in India.

Key discussions revolved around transformative initiatives and innovative financial mechanisms fostering gender-inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development. Focused themes included urban alliances within Indian cities, promoting innovation and circularity, and inclusive urban mobility as a social enabler, a statement from the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry disclosed.

Highlighting the collaboration's significance, Herve Delphin, EU Ambassador to India, emphasized the EU's role in supporting Indian urban planning since 2017. He pointed out that over €45 million [INR 400 crores] has leveraged around €1 billion [INR 9000 crores] to boost sustainable urbanization, with plans to continue from 2025 to 2027. Srinivas Katikithala, HUA secretary, reiterated India's dedication to urban innovation for enduring sustainable urbanization.

(With inputs from agencies.)