VIENTIANE: Officials from Laos and other Asean member states shared their experiences in smart and sustainable city development during the 7th Asean Smart Cities Network Annual Meeting held in Luang Prabang province.
According to Laos’ Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which hosted the meeting, the gathering was an opportunity to discuss regional efforts to expand financing options for smart city projects, strengthen technical support and capacity building for cities, discuss the direction of Asean’s post-2025 efforts on smart and sustainable cities, and engage Asean’s partner countries in the mobilisation of resources.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Laos’ Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr Ngampasong Muongmany said the integration of smart technologies requires substantial investment in infrastructure and capacity building.
There is also a need for robust data governance frameworks to ensure data privacy and security. Moreover, public awareness and acceptance of smart solutions are crucial for their successful implementation.
Chairing the meeting, Director General of the ministry’s Housing and Urban Planning Department, Dr Viengnam Douangphachanh, said the demand for creative and sustainable solutions is growing as cities continue to expand.
The meeting was a forum for cooperation, information exchange, and group efforts to create a better future for the Asean Smart Cities Network.
Representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport; and the United States’ Department of State attended the meeting to discuss advancing cooperation in smart and sustainable urban development.
The meeting was followed by the Asean Smart Cities Network Annual Conference on Smart Solutions for Solving Urban Issues on July 31.
Participants discussed lessons learnt and innovative solutions on how to advance smart and sustainable urban development, taking into consideration the opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid urbanisation of countries in the Asean bloc. – Vientiane Times/ANN
