This concept note outlines Singapore’s proposal to establish an ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN).
Rationale
2 Most of ASEAN’s growth has been, and will continue to be, driven by urban centres, with 90 million more people expected to urbanise by 2030 and “middleweight” cities of between 200,000 and 2 million residents forecast to drive 40% of the region’s growth.1 However, this rapid urbanisation is not without its challenges as it has implications on important issues such as city congestion, water/air quality, poverty, rising inequalities, urban-rural divide, citizen security and safety. Technological and digital solutions can be utilised to resolve these issues and to enhance quality and accessibility of services, thereby improving our citizens’ lives across the urban-rural continuum, creating new opportunities for them and helping ensure that no one is left behind.
