Bandar Seri Begawan, 20 October 2021 (TDI): The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Info-communications (MTIC); Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof hosted a meeting on ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network.

He co-chaired the 3rd ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High-Level Meeting. The two days meeting was virtual. Haji Mohammad Nazri represented Brunei.

Japanese Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, and Hokkaido Development, Ishida Masaru was a co-chair in the meeting, as well.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Info-communications (MTIC) Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof and Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Hokkaido Development, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan Ishida Masaru

The meeting was a part of the International Conference on Sustainable, Resilient Cities and Transport. The 3rd ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan.

The representative of Brunei said that rapid worldwide urbanization is leading to novel challenges. The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has deteriorated the world’s situation by increasing digitization.

He underscored that such platforms are paramount for ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) members. The world should learn from Japan’s experiences for smart and sustainable urbanization.

Haji Mohammad Nazri lauded the efforts of the Japanese Government to support ASEAN. Japan introduced the concept of Smart City. Brunei Darussalam is reassessing smart city initiatives to explore in the future.

3rd ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High-Level Meeting

ASEAN and Japan collaborate to promote the concept of smart cities in each member city of the ASCN. The High-Level Meeting was held to share the ASEAN countries’ needs and Japan’s know-how and technologies.

These meetings also provide a platform for collaboration among public institutions and private organizations. Furthermore, the “ASEAN-Japan Smart City Network High-Level Meeting” aims to disseminate smart city initiatives from Japan.

The High-Level Meeting is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).