WeGO Strengthens Cooperation with Japan to Expand Smart City Partnerships
Seoul, South Korea – April 22, 2025 — The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) held a productive meeting on April 21 with H.E. Mr. MIZUSHIMA Koichi, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Korea, to discuss opportunities for enhanced collaboration between WeGO and Japanese local governments in the field of smart city development. The delegation from WeGO, led by Secretary General Mr. Jeong-Kee Kim, met with Ambassador Mizushima and senior representatives from the Embassy of Japan at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. The discussion centered on WeGO’s mission to foster innovation, digital governance, and sustainable urban transformation through international cooperation.
During the meeting, Secretary General Kim provided an overview of WeGO’s strategic projects and global outreach efforts. Program Manager Mr. Lii Inn Tan presented the wide-ranging benefits available to WeGO member cities, including access to capacity-building programs, feasibility study support, global project matchmaking, and active participation in international initiatives.WeGO emphasized the importance of expanding Japanese city participation in the organization, acknowledging Japan’s leadership in smart city innovation. The organization expressed its intention to deepen partnerships through joint programs and requested the Embassy’s support in outreach to Japanese municipalities.
Ambassador Mizushima responded positively, recognizing the alignment between WeGO’s objectives and Japan’s smart city agenda. He welcomed further cooperation and encouraged WeGO to connect with CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations), which coordinates Japanese local governments’ international relations efforts. As part of the meeting, WeGO also introduced the Seoul Smart City Prize, an international award recognizing excellence in digital innovation and sustainable urban practices. The Embassy was invited to promote the Prize to Japanese cities. Moving forward, WeGO plans to meet with CLAIR Seoul in May 2025 to explore collaborative opportunities with Japanese local governments.
About WeGO
The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.
WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Press Contact:
Name: Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169