BRICS Countries to Develop Common Agenda During HABITAT-3 Conference

Urban transition will be the main topic for leaders of the BRICS countries during the upcoming HABITAT-3 conference in Visakhapatnam.

The three day conference "Urban Transition in BRICS" that seeks to promote cooperation among member countries in the urban sector will be inaugurated by Indian Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu on September 14.

The conference will be attended by Andhara Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, ministers from other BRICS countries and a large number of urban planners, experts, and members of academia.

The main topics of discussion during the event will be development of smart cities, financing of urban infrastructure, inclusive housing, climate change, regional planning, water and sanitation, management and new reforms for urban renaissance.

India currently holds the chairmanship of BRICS and chose "Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions" as the theme for the BRICS Summit which will be held in Goa in October this year.

BRICS nations account for over 3 billion or 53.4 percent of the of the world's population, 23 percent of global GDP and 27 percent of the world's land mass, spread over four continents.