Bangkok--7 Jun--JC&CO PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Ministry of the Digital Economy and Society (D.E.), collaborates with the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Energy to hold an ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Roundtable Meeting. 26 cities in ten countries: including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore – discussing the theme of the ASCN.
Included in the criteria of smart city development, in promoting quality of life in ASEAN states through technology and innovation, to assist with drastic city expansion and congestion, inequality between urban and rural areas, security, etc. There will also be an exhibition and topical discussions themed around "Smart and Sustainable City", with many interesting topics.
Dr.Pichet Durongkaveroj, the minister of the Digital Economy and Society, stated that smart city development became a globally essential and interesting topic to improving economy and society. Thailand has conscientiously driven into smart cities concept and is set to be the leader of this field in the region. In 2019, chairmanship of ASEAN was given to Thailand and the Prime Minister revealed the intention in developing the "smart cities" system from the recent ASEAN Summit. Consequently, on behalf of D.E., the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Roundtable Meeting has been organized under the main Thai concept; that is "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability"
The team hosting the ASEAN Smart Cities Network seminar consists of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society – Digital Economy Promotion Agency, the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) from Ministry of Energy, and the Office of Transport/Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) from Ministry of Transportation. The main objective of this meeting is to inform and highlight the status of each country in ASEAN in relation to the smart cities developing plan; to counsel on ASCN regulations, smart cities process, and evaluating regulations surrounding smart city development. This will help ratification with the planned ASCN Annual Meeting in August 2019. All discussed will be delivered to the 35th ASEAN Summit, held in November 2019, and will be used as guidance during the collaboration of ASCN, concluded Dr.Pichet.
Dr.Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, the CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), stated that the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) was an initiation from the ASEAN Summit chairmanship period of Singapore in 2018, as a mutual goal for creating sustainably smart cities, promoting quality of life in ASEAN countries via technology and innovation, and for coping with city expansion problems such as congestion, the appalling quality of water and air, poverty, increasing inequality, quality gap between urban and rural areas, and the residents' security. ASCN consists of cities from ASEAN members 26 cities; Bandar Seri Begawan, Bangkok, Banyuwangi, Battambang, Cebu, Chonburi, Da Nang, Davao, Jakarta, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kualar Lumpur, Kuching, Luang Prabang, Makassar, Mandalay, Manila, Nay Pyi Taw, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Siem Reap, Singapore, Vientiane, and Yangon. All of these cities are considered as cities to be developed, especially the infrastructure, data connection, technological systems, and the culture. These developed aspects are expected to be realized in the near future.
The Digital Economy Promotion Agency has recently organized ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Roundtable Meeting, the exhibition and the discussion with Smart and Sustainable City concepts; "Smart and Sustainable City in 21st Century: Towards SDQs", "City Data Platform" and "Smart City Experience and Best Practices" at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).
For further information, please contact DEPA Smart City (Digital Economy Promotion Agency), call 02-0262333 ext. 5101 – 5111 or the website www.smartcitythailand.or.th