WeGO connects ASEAN local leaders with Korean and international partners

November 22, 2019

SEOUL – WeGO has successfully carried out its WeGO-ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Mayoral Conference, a two-day event for governors and mayors across ASEAN for knowledge sharing and networking with Korean and international partners and stakeholders for the implementation of their smart city action plans (SCAPs).

Organized in collaboration with Korean national and local government, including the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Seoul Metropolitan Government, along with support from the ASEAN Secretariat, 150+ experts from the public and private sector in Korea and from abroad attended the event alongside 15+ local leaders from ASEAN.

Plenary sessions at the conference offered insights into ways in which ASEAN cities can finance and execute smart city projects such as those established in the SCAPs, which were developed by each of the 26 pilot cities of ASCN. Panelists from Korean research institutions also presented their activities to accelerate smart city development in the region.

In a series of breakout sessions organized under the overarching themes of “Buildings, Roads and Public Spaces,” “Traffic Management and Public Safety,” and “Solid Waste and Wastewater Management,” local leaders identified areas of overlap with their peers in the region, and shared common challenges along with ideas toward joint solutions. WeGO separately arranged matchmaking meetings among participants on the sidelines of the event.

WeGO and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) formalized their newly established partnership with an MOU on the occasion of the event, agreeing to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas of mutual interest to develop safe and resilient smart sustainable cities, across ASEAN and beyond. KISA represents WeGO’s newest institutional member.

In 2020, WeGO plans to continue its support for ASCN and incoming chair Vietnam, to expand international partnerships for the SCAPs. Separately, work is also underway to spearhead the establishment of a network of smart cities in Northeast Asia, which is expected to include capitals and other major cities across China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia.