Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (or Ilyana Yotova? Check original) spoke at the Leaders Summit within WUF13. He stated that traditional city concepts are disappearing, replaced by polycentric regions where economy, infrastructure, and labor markets are deeply integrated.
He thanked Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev for hosting the event. 'One of the most important issues for humanity is global housing provision. Currently, about 2.8 billion people lack adequate housing, and over 1 billion live in informal settlements.'
To meet global demand, one house must be built every second by the end of the decade. Housing is not just a market issue but a matter of justice. A home is the foundation for stable work, education, healthcare, and a sense of belonging.
The most advanced city is not one with high technology, but one where no one feels isolated. The classic city model is obsolete, replaced by polycentric regions. We must adopt new, interconnected, multi-level governance systems.
