On Thursday, the Indian G20 Presidency and Asian Development Bank jointly organized a capacity-building workshop for G20 delegates, with a focus on discussing international best practices for urban infrastructure development and financing. The workshop aimed to highlight capacity prerequisites for local governments to finance urban infrastructure for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. Experts from Singapore, South Korea, Russia, China, the European Commission, and India shared their experiences and best practices for enhancing infrastructure financing for cities. They presented specific case studies and initiatives adopted by their countries to increase the financing of urban infrastructure.

Former deputy chief executive officer and director-general of the National Environmental Agency in Singapore, Ah Tuan Loh, presented Singapore’s principles and strategies for dynamic urban governance systems to achieve liveability, integrated master planning, and development. Singapore is known for its high-quality infrastructure and sustainable development practices, making it an ideal model for other cities to learn from. The session was followed by South Korea's experience with and challenges of urban development and financing. Inhee Kim and Ga Hui Shin of the Seoul Institute presented and discussed specific challenges faced by the city of Seoul, including various redevelopment and restoration measures adopted to mitigate them.

Delegates from China, Russia, the European Commission, and India also presented their case studies, highlighting various measures adopted to increase the financing of urban infrastructure. These case studies covered a range of topics, including private sector participation in effective solid waste management, lake rejuvenation, and floating solar projects.

The workshop included both classroom sessions and field visits to enable effective cross-learning. The delegates had the opportunity to visit three successful projects in the city of Vizag, including the 24x7 water supply project, Mudasarlova Lake to showcase lake rejuvenation and a 2 MW floating solar project, and the waste-to-energy plant in Kapuluppada to highlight private sector participation in effective solid waste management.

The G20 capacity-building workshop provided a platform for experts to share their experiences and best practices for enhancing infrastructure financing for cities. The workshop aimed to equip local governments with the necessary skills and knowledge to finance urban infrastructure for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. By sharing international best practices, cities can learn from each other and create more liveable, integrated, and sustainable urban environments.