Germany and Iran are strengthening their cooperation in the areas of urban development and building. State Secretary at the Federal Building Ministry, Gunther Adler today opened a conference in Iran, at which experts from both countries will share experiences on implementing integrated and sustainable urban development approaches and energy-efficient building. State Secretary Adler is accompanied by a delegation from industry and science.
In light of global urbanisation processes, questions surrounding sustainable urban development and sustainable building are currently a hot political topic. It is not just in Germany and Europe that cities are facing the challenges of climate change, the economic structural changes brought on by globalisation, demographic shift and securing social cohesion.
Gunther Adler explained: "We therefore have a fundamental interest in supporting cities, nationally and internationally, with long-term, integrated and viable approaches for their development. Cities are key locations, and in all corners of the world the security, stability and prosperity of a country rely in equal measure on them remaining socially balanced, ecologically sustainable, economically stable, pleasant and liveable, or striving to realise this vision if not already achieved."
Against this background, the Federal Building Ministry, in close cooperation with the Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, wants to pave the way towards a sustainable and future-proof urban development and support and accompany Iran and its cities on this path.
On the fringes of the conference, State Secretary Adler held an exchange of views with several representatives of the Iranian Government, including State Secretary and Head of the New Town Development Company (NTDC), Mohsen Nariman and State Secretary and President of the Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center (BHRC), Professor Mohammad Shekarchi Zadeh. Adler commented: "I am delighted that I could hold encouraging talks with my Iranian counterparts on the continuation and intensification of our cooperation."