Governments, city
representatives, and industry leaders from across the globe will be attending
the biennial World
Cities Summit (“WCS” or “the Summit”) which is returning this
year from 8 to 12 July 2018 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
The World Cities
Summit is an exclusive and premier platform for government leaders and industry
experts to gather together and address the challenges faced in liveable and
sustainable cities. They will also have the opportunity to share integrated
urban solutions and build influential partnerships.
Jointly organised by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and Urban
Redevelopment Authority, this year’s
summit, entitled "Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Embracing the Future
through Innovation and Collaboration", will explore how cities can embrace
the future through innovation and collaboration. Through a shared vision and social innovations, the
public and private sectors including communities can co-create innovative and
integrated urban solutions for the future. Key highlights of the Summit include
the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize and the Mayors Forum.
The Summit
will be hosting high-level audiences, including Mr
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy
Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, Singapore;
Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka; Ms Kristalina Georgieva,
Chief Executive Officer, The World Bank Group; and Ms Stephanie Von Friedeburg,
Chief Operating Officer, International Finance Corporation.
City Solutions
Singapore (CSS) is the preferred global platform to showcase new and
cutting-edge solutions for smart nations and urban environments. It will act as
a catalyst for industries to pursue new
partnerships and business opportunities with over 1,000 participating
companies, making it an international marketplace of choice for stakeholders
across the value chain of sustainable development. The Singapore Government
Pavilion will showcase the shared vision and collaboration of this multi-agency
effort. The pavilion’s seamless design symbolises
the spirit of innovation, strategic planning, and
collaboration – values which are fundamental to Singapore’s push for a high
quality of life, competitive economy and sustainable environment.
A series of advanced
sessions will provide strategic insights from various experts on the relationship
between leadership and governance as well as the latest debate on liveability
and sustainability. The four thematic tracks for 2018 are Urban Governance,
Planning, Resilience, and Innovation. The focus
will be on the major questions of financing cities, ensuring inclusivity in
planning, governance for disruptive innovations, and building resilient cities.
Concurrent events
like The
Singapore International Transport Congress and Exhibition, will feature exhaustive information exchanges
on transport solutions with a focus on digital technologies.
Similarly,
The ASEAN Smart Cities
Network, features a collaborative platform where ASEAN Member States work towards the common
goal of developing smart and sustainable urban cities using technology to
improve people's lives.
In
addition to the key pillar events, the following new programme highlights have
been incorporated into WCS 2018: the 6th Meeting of Governors and Mayors
of ASEAN Capitals will occur on 7 July; the 4th ASEAN Mayors
Forum will also be held on 7 July and, in accordance with the theme
of the forum, “Smart and Sustainable Development for the ASEAN Community”, the
forum will place particular importance on the ASEAN
Connectivity Blueprint.
Finally, on 10 July,
the City Innovators: Pitch Perfect – Bringing Your Innovation to the World
Arena is scheduled to happen on 10 July and features a new pop-up
platform for start-ups to pitch their latest innovative technologies and
solutions to over 3,000 delegates, industry leaders, and potential investors, City Innovators will culminate with a
networking opportunity at Industry Night at City Solutions Singapore Expo.