Jakarta (ANTARA) – Smart city development is the main area of focus in the ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN) annual meeting, the Home Affairs Ministry stated here on Monday.”We hope that this event is not just a routine, but more than that, to produce various innovations and breakthroughs in smart city development,” Chair of 2023 ASCN, Safrizal ZA, remarked. The 2023 ASCN will be held in Bali on July 12-13, 2023, with focus on the development of 26 smart cities in Southeast Asia. Safrizal, who serves as the ministry’s Director General of Regional Administration Development, stated that all ASEAN members will attend the event, including Japan, South Korea, the United States, and the European Union that participate as observers. Indonesia, as the 2023 ASEAN Chair, is focusing on making the region a center of global growth by expediting sustainable development through cooperation. Ideas and practices of smart cities as well as recommendations on urban issues in Southeast Asia will be discussed at the meeting. Both central and local governments in ASEAN countries will present their own smart city development. While hosting this year’s ASCN, the Home Ministry had held some events and discussions that presented National Representatives (NRs), Chief Smart City Officers (CSCOs), regional leaders, and representatives from the business and industry sectors. Themes in the annual meeting include innovation, industry, infrastructure safety, and social and health issues. Safrizal expressed optimism that the ASCN annual meeting in Bali would result in collaboration to expedite smart city development in the region. “This forum is expected to be a melting point for multi-sector collaboration among governments, private parties, and the public in order to expedite urban development, both in Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region,” he explained. The ASCN Pilot Cities in Indonesia are Banyuwangi, Jakarta, and Makassar. Safrizal stated that core development of smart cities in Indonesia is not only oriented towards technology and digitalization but also on the government’s capabilities in offering solutions to social problems. Related news: Indonesia expands smart city network to ASEAN
Source: Antara News Agency