Private sector key in realization of urban agenda

Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, said the private sector in his country was still weak owing to the instability that had plagued the country but said his government was ready for partnership towards construction of affordable houses.

Kiir said the continued challenges experienced in South Sudan's cities and urban areas including poor infrastructure, unemployment and insecurity impeded the national development.

He said they were looking into the efforts to tackle the challenges which includes interventions to provide jobs and create income generation opportunities.

Josaia Vorege, the prime minister of Fiji, said involvement of the private sector is a must for any country to achieve the Sustainable Development goals or SDGs.

Vorege said governments should develop clear financing mechanisms that will accommodate the private sector.

He also called for global action to address the unprecedented scale of threat from climate change.

"We are innovating every day to protect our people from the impact of the climate crisis because it would be a global catastrophe," he said.

Maeen Abdulmalik, the prime minister of Yemen, said it is difficult for the private sector to work in countries that are experiencing conflicts.

He said the conflict in his country had created an extraordinary demographic change within towns and cities, as residents fled from conflict areas.

"When it comes to urban planning and housing, we need hundreds of thousands of units in certain areas as well as need for electricity. So we are striving for and relying on the private sector to produce these," he said.