Singapore Expert Calls for Long-Term Planning in ASEAN Smart Cities

Published 2026-10-13

A Singaporean official has highlighted the importance of long-term planning for the success of smart-city projects across Southeast Asia. Lim Chee Kia, representing the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, shared these insights at the Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints, which began this Monday.

As cities in the ASEAN region grow rapidly, the need for efficient urban management has become a top priority. Lim emphasized that while technology is a key part of modernizing cities, it is not enough on its own. To make smart-city initiatives sustainable, governments must look beyond short-term goals and focus on long-term strategies that can adapt to future challenges.

Smart-city initiatives often involve using data and technology to improve public services, such as transportation, waste management, and responding to citizen complaints. By sharing expertise, Singapore aims to help neighboring countries build infrastructure that is both reliable and easy for citizens to use.

This discussion is particularly relevant for Singapore, which is already a global leader in smart-city development. By collaborating with other ASEAN nations, Singapore hopes to create a more connected and efficient region that can better serve its growing urban populations.

In conclusion, the forum serves as a platform for experts to exchange ideas on how to improve urban governance. Moving forward, the focus will remain on creating smart cities that are not only technologically advanced but also capable of providing long-term benefits to the people living in them.

Sources: CGTN

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