The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) is a collaborative platform that aims to unify smart city development efforts across ASEAN. The ACSN aims to facilitate cooperation on smart city development, broker smart city development projects between city government units and local private sector firms, and secure funding and support for these developments from ASEAN's external partners.[1] The initiative was launched at the 32nd ASEAN Summit as a key deliverable of Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2018,[2] and its Inaugural Meeting took place on 8 July 2018.
Background
The ASCN was formed as a response to rapid urbanization throughout Southeast Asia, and aims to standardize the ongoing or upcoming developments of various metropolitan areas in the region.
Southeast Asia's growth has primarily been driven by metropolises, and an estimated 90 million people are expected to enter the region's metropolitan areas by 2030. "Middleweight cities" with populations between 200,000 and 2 million residents are expected to drive 40% of the region's urban development growth, and the ASCN aims to help ASEAN Member States plan and enact initiatives that wish to bring more cities up to the metropolitan level.[1]
ASCN Cities
A list of the 26 Pilot Cities that have been nominated by the respective ASEAN Member States is as follows:
The Smart City Action Plans and Priority Projects developed by the 26 Pilot Cities can be found here
Representation
Each ASEAN Member State nominates a National Representative to the Network.[1] In addition, each city also nominates a Chief Smart City Officer (CSCO).[1] The status of a CSCO is equivalent to that of a Chief Urban Planner or Chief Resilience Officer.[3] CSCO's role is to attend the annual meeting, craft
his or her respective city’s action plan and discuss the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework. There is thus representation at both the national and municipal levels. The table below lists the CSCOs who are each city's main point of contact with the Network.
City
Chief Smart City Officer
Designation
Bandar Seri Begawan
Haji Ali Matyassin
Chairman, Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department
Battambang
Soeum Bunrith
Deputy Governor, Battambang Province
Phnom Penh
NUON Pharat
Deputy Governor, Phnom Penh Capital City
Siem Reap
Ly Samreth
Deputy Governor, Siem Reap Province
Makassar
Ismail Hajiali
Head of Communications and Information, Makassar City Government
Banyuwangi
Budi Santoso
Head of Informatics, Communications and Encryption, Banyuwangi Government
DKI Jakarta
Dian Ekowati
Head of Communications and Informatics Office
Luang Prabang
Soukan Bounnyong
Mayor
Vientiane
Bouchan Keosithamma
Deputy Director of Public Works and Transport, Vientiane Capital
Johor Bahru
Maimunah Jaffar
Head, Planning and Compliance
Kuala Lumpur
Datuk Najib bin Mohamad
Executive Director (Planning)
Kota Kinabalu
Stanley Chong Hon Chung
Tantinny Fung Chew Li
Director of City Planning Department, Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
Town Planner, City Planning Department, Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
Kuching
Julin Alen
Principal Assistant Director, State Planning Unit, Chief Minister Department, Sarawak
Nay Pyi Taw
Myo Aung
Permanent Secretary, Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee
Mandalay
Ye Myat Thu
Committee Member, Mandalay City Government
Yangon
Tin Tin Kyi
Director of Urban Planning Division
Representative, Yangon City Development Committee
Cebu City
Nigel Paul C. Villarete
City Administrator
Davao City
Mgen Benito Antonio T De Leon Afp
Rowena Henedine Dominguez-Narajos
Head Public Safety and Security Command Center
Information Technology Officer II
Manila
Mario Zapatos Oblefias
Head, Electronic Data Processing, Manila City Hall
Singapore
Tan Chee Hau
Director(Planning and Prioritization) Smart Nation and Digital Government Office, Prime Minister's Office
Bangkok
Chaiwat Thongkamkoon
Director-General, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning
Chonburi
Seksan Phunboonmee
Policy and Plan Analyst, Energy Policy and Planning Office, Ministry of Energy
Phuket
Passakon Prathombutr
Senior Executive Vice President, Digital Economy Promotion Agency
Da Nang
Nguyen Quang Thanh
Director, Da Nang Department of Information and Communication
Hanoi
Nguyen Duc Chung
Chairman, Hanoi People's Committee
Ho Chi Minh City
Tran Vinh Tuyen
Vice Chairman, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee
Support and partnerships
In March 2018, Australia announced a A$30 million fund to support smart city development in ASEAN.[4]
In July 2018, five agreements were signed during the Opening Ceremony of the Inaugural ASCN Meeting.[5] Among them was an agreement between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) which expressed support for the ASCN in the context of promoting sustainable development in the Asia Pacific.[6] An agreement was also signed between the Amata Smart City Corporation Chonburi and the Yokohama Urban Solutions Alliance.[5]