The panel session “A New Deal for Housing Finance” was held as part of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13). The session featured remarks by Anar Karimov, First Deputy Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan; Sanjay Shukla, Executive Director of the National Housing Bank of India; Tamara Marin, Minister of Housing and Territorial Planning of Uruguay; and Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Axar.az informs, citing WUF13’s Facebook account, the discussions focused on making housing finance more accessible, sustainable and inclusive amid rising urbanization, population growth and increasing land prices. Speakers highlighted the importance of aligning land planning, public policy and financial mechanisms to improve housing affordability and respond to growing housing needs.

The session also featured insights from Azerbaijan, India, UN-Habitat and Uruguay, with emphasis on affordable mortgage systems, targeted subsidies, the role of financial institutions and community-based approaches in expanding access to housing.