July 2024 | UCLG ASPAC, as the Secretariat of the ASEAN Mayors Forum (AMF), has consistently facilitated the cooperation and collaboration among cities in the sub-region through a wide array of fields and practices, including the acceleration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCLG ASPAC encouraged promoting local leaders’ initiatives from Southeast Asia in the 2024 International Mayors Forum.
ASEAN Leader Representatives at the International Mayors Forum 2024
Klang, Malaysia (represented by Mayor Noraini Roslan)
Shared sustainability of urban activities based on urban sustainability indicators they have developed which started at the 75% mark and has progressed to 91% although still faced many challenges. These include non-revenue water loss, public transportation and water quality in Klang’s river, and data collection (they need strong institutions at the national level to ensure accurate data within the city’s boundary for effective measurement).
Klang has implemented projects in housing areas to demonstrate waste separation and renewable energy use. And by next year, Klang aims to accelerate 20 projects using the same method.
Bangkok, Thailand (represented by Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration)
The target is to become a ‘Smart City’ by focusing on communication literacy, technology digitisation, and maintaining analogue systems to understand the asymmetry, complexity, and uncertainty within the urban environment.
They have improved local services involving active citizenship and accountability. It is tracked in real time and used for performance assessments and promotions.
The goal is to spread knowledge and awareness of SDGs to more people.
Viet Nam (represented by Mr. Ngo Trung Hai, General Secretary of the Association of Cities of Viet Nam/ACVN)
City focus on Viet Nam includes having a sustainable and resilient urban and rural governance to ensure safe living and working environments for both of high-income and low-income populations.
Recommendations from ACVN are to have incentive policies such as land use fee exemptions, infrastructure support around housing projects, and low interest rates for loans.
Dili, Timor Leste (represented by Mayor Gregório da Cunha Saldanha)
He stated the commitment to address environmental issues, such as regulations to reduce plastic waste and pollution and change it into valuable resources, policies to control imports and transport of hazardous materials.
After the completion of the International Mayors Forum, the showcasing of ASEAN city development will be more exposed at the ASEAN Mayors Forum 2024, back-to-back with the Meeting of Governments/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC) 2024, which will be held from 18-19 September 2024. The Vientiane Capital Administration will host the 2024 AMF at the Lao National Convention Centre.
