ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established in 1967 and consists of 10 Member States.
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ASEAN, comprising 10 member states and a population of over 661.8 million people, is actively working towards enhancing the lives, work, and travel experiences of its residents through the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025). Adopted in 2016, this plan aims to establish a comprehensive and seamless network of individuals and infrastructure, fostering competitiveness, inclusivity, and a stronger sense of community within the region. MPAC 2025 encompasses 15 initiatives across strategic areas such as Sustainable Infrastructure, Digital Innovation, Seamless Logistics, Regulatory Excellence, and People Mobility.
Within the Sustainable Infrastructure domain of MPAC 2025, the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) stands as one of its key initiatives. ASUS provides a sustainable framework for urbanization in ASEAN cities, focusing on six core areas: civic and social aspects, health and well-being, security, a quality environment, built infrastructure, and industry and innovation. It comprises a detailed report outlining urban trends and priority areas for urban development within the region. Additionally, ASUS offers two practical toolkits designed to aid local governments in ASEAN cities in advancing sustainable urbanization efforts within their respective areas.
This annual event is co-organized by UCLG ASPAC and the ASEAN Secretariat to discuss local actions for sustainable and inclusive growth, exchange experiences and share urban solutions. Participants include mayors, representatives of local governments and local government associations from all ASEAN member states. The 5th ASEAN Mayors Forum, Driving Local Actions for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, was held in August 2019 co-organized in Bangkok with ESCAP, while the 2021 AMF on Enabling Environment on Climate Resilience: Local Governments and Cities Commitment to Tackle Climate Change was held virtually in June 2021.
In 2018, ASEAN Leaders initiated the creation of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) as a collaborative platform for cities across the ten ASEAN Member States to collaboratively pursue innovative and sustainable urban development.
Given the opportunities and challenges brought about by rapid urbanization and digitalization, the primary objective of the ASCN is to enhance the quality of life for ASEAN citizens through the utilization of technology. Emphasizing inclusivity and respect for human rights, as outlined in the ASEAN Charter, the network adopts a people-centric approach to smart city development. Additionally, the interconnection of Smart Cities throughout ASEAN fosters greater cultural understanding.
The ASCN strives to facilitate cooperation in smart city development, facilitate viable projects in partnership with the private sector, and secure funding and support from external partners of ASEAN. To date, the network has established 33 partnerships.
The inaugural ASCN Governance Workshop took place in Singapore in May 2018. This workshop provided ASCN members with an opportunity to draft their Smart City Action Plans with expert guidance, engage in discussions regarding the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework, and establish connections with external partners. The 2022 Monitoring & Evaluation Report indicates significant advancements achieved by the ASCN at both the city and network levels. For instance, the number of smart city projects has increased from 65 in 2021 to 77 projects in 2022.
