A separate significant event at the forum was a business meeting between Vasil Mazitov, chairman of the International Association for Territorial Development, and Mr. Rahul Kapoor, director of the Smart Cities mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in the Republic of India. The parties discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation and outlined plans for partnership development.
Mr. Kapoor shared his impressions: «The meeting with Mr Mazitov confirmed the enormous potential for Russian-Indian cooperation in smart urban development. We are willing to share our experience with the national Smart Cities programme, which has shown good results in Indian cities. It is especially important for us to work together on adapting our developments to conditions in BRICS+ countries.»
Mr. Kapoor invited Vasil Mazitov to visit New Delhi to study the practice of implementing smart city projects. «We will be happy to show you our most successful cases and we are ready to organize meetings with key experts in the Indian smart cities program. This will allow your Russian partners to learn from our valuable experience.» As part of the forum, Rajendra Kumar, a renowned Indian architect, was accepted as a member of the International Association for Territorial Development. He expressed his willingness to join the work of MARCH’s expert council and accepted an invitation to give a presentation at their first meeting. One of the main events was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MARCH and the international urban lab «CENTER Lab.»
The signing ceremony of the document laying the legal basis for a long-term partnership took place with the participation of Vasil Mazitov, Chairman of MARCH, and Ilya Smirnov, Head of the Analytical Department of CENTER Lab. The agreement provides for the development of cooperation in the fields of development, urban planning, and urban studies to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals for BRICS+ cities.
Vasil Mazitov emphasized the importance of partnership: “We see great potential in joining forces with professionals. The laboratory works actively with architects from different countries, and our goal is to unite government agencies, businesses, and experts to integrate the development of territories.”
Ilya Smirno noted: “Partnering with an association that unites key players in the market from 12 countries opens access to important skills and expands our ability to develop effective international solutions.”
The signed agreements mark the beginning of a new stage in international cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development, and they create a solid foundation for implementing large-scale projects by the International Association for Territorial Development in the BRICS+ countries.