The Minister of Land and Housing was invited as a distinguished speaker at the Opening Ceremony on 14 April 2025, which convened a diverse and high-level audience of city leaders, government officials, private sector representatives, development banks, and NGOs. The event focused on shaping the future of cities through inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development.
The opening session featured contributions from several prominent dignitaries, including:
• Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, OECD
• Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat
• Mr. Fahri Hamzah, Vice Minister of Housing and Settlements, Republic of Indonesia
• Ms. Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, Japan
• Ms. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, France
During his address, Shakeel Mohamed highlighted the particular vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Mauritius in the face of climate change. He cited the recent devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Agalega as a stark example of the urgent need for resilient and eco-friendly infrastructure, as well as improved disaster preparedness. He called for increased international collaboration and financial support to assist island nations in building sustainable urban futures.
The Minister also showcased Mauritius’ efforts in:
• Advancing sustainable housing
• Enhancing land management practices
• Promoting strategic land use planning to optimise limited natural resources
He also raised the persistent challenge of access to adequate financing, which remains a significant barrier for the implementation of climate-resilient solutions.
On the margins of the event, the Minister held a productive exchange with Mr. Gaetan Siew, a Mauritian expert working with UN-Habitat, to explore possible avenues of collaboration between Mauritius and the organisation.
Key Takeaways from the Mission:
• The launch of the ‘Cities for All’ report, which addresses the ageing demographic trend in OECD cities and proposes policies for age-inclusive urban planning.
• Participation in the 7th Meeting of the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, which focused on creating equitable cities amid widening inequalities.
• Discussions on future mobility, inclusive city planning, and innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable urban growth.
• Emphasis on local action in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with case studies presented from cities and regions leading impactful initiatives.
Mauritius’ presence at this high-level gathering reaffirmed the country’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable urban development and opened new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, knowledge exchange, and access to OECD data and policy tools that could benefit national urban policy formulation.
Le Ministre a participé en tant qu’orateur de marque à la cérémonie d’ouverture du 14 avril 2025, axée sur l’avenir des villes via un développement urbain inclusif, durable et résilient. Des dignitaires de l’OCDE, d’ONU-Habitat et des représentants de plusieurs pays et villes ont pris part à l’événement.
Le Ministre Mohamed a souligné la vulnérabilité des PEID comme Maurice face au changement climatique, citant le cyclone Chido à Agalega. Il a plaidé pour une collaboration internationale et un soutien financier accrus pour des infrastructures résilientes et une meilleure préparation aux catastrophes.
Il a présenté les efforts de Maurice en matière de logement durable, de gestion foncière et de planification stratégique de l’utilisation des terres, tout en soulevant le défi du financement.
En marge, il a exploré une collaboration potentielle avec ONU-Habitat.
Principaux points à retenir : lancement du rapport ‘Villes pour tous’, participation à la réunion des maires champions de l’OCDE, discussions sur la mobilité future, la planification inclusive et le financement innovant. L’accent a été mis sur l’action locale pour atteindre les ODD.
La présence de Maurice a réaffirmé son engagement et ouvert des opportunités de coopération et d’échange de connaissances.
