Promotion of ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN) by Commencing a High-Level Meeting

Motivated by the opportunities and challenges of rapid urbanization and digitalization, the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) came into fruition on 28 April 2018, at the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore. The ASCN synergizes and bridges existing efforts of ASEAN smart cities. It is a result of collaboration, centering on the goal of “smart and sustainable urban development” among its 26 pilot cities. A smart city in ASEAN is envisioned to achieve balance between and among a competitive economy, sustainable environment, and high quality of life as described in the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework. Smart city development cuts across many sectors such as transport, water quality, energy, health care, education, public services, data, and information and communications technology (ICT).

A year since its establishment, there is much for the ASCN to reflect as it moves forward. Japan, in the ASEAN-Japan Summit in November 2018, has expressed its support for the initiative through a high-level meeting, where exchanges on progress, experiences, lessons learned, and challenges on smart city development can be facilitated among the ASCN, the public and private sector in Japan, and other international organizations.