CLC-ASC Regional Workshops on
“Urbanisation in Southeast Asian Countries:
Cities as Engines of Development”

Nearly half of Southeast Asia's population now lives in cities. This is projected to increase to 70% in 30 years' time and more attention needs to be given to urbanisation issues. Furthermore, each Southeast Asian (SEA) city faces diverse and unique circumstances. Nonetheless, there are common challenges that cities can identify with and collectively address as a region.

To promote better understanding of urbanisation trends and challenges in the region, the Centre for Liveable Cities and ASEAN Studies Centre at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore are jointly organizing a series of 2 regional workshops to provide a platform for discussion and exchange on urbanisation issues in SEA. Findings by this informal network of Southeast Asian urban experts, policy makers and practitioners will be distilled into a publication for circulation at regional platforms. The aim is to raise the discussion of urbanisation issues to a higher level of priority in the regional agenda.

The 1st workshop was held in Singapore on 10-11 Dec 2009, focusing on key urbanisation trends and perspectives in each of the ASEAN countries. 11 urban experts representing 8 of the 10 ASEAN countries shared their countries’ experiences at this workshop. The 2nd workshop is scheduled to be held in Singapore on 18-19 Mar 2010. This workshop involves cross-cutting discussions on 5 key themes & 15 subthemes identified by participants in the 1st workshop as critical issues and challenges faced by the region. These themes range from economic development, governance to social and environment issues. In addition, over 20 policy-planner discussants from the ASEAN countries will be attending the workshop to provide policy perspectives from their respective countries.

Findings and action recommendations from these regional workshops will be presented at an expert panel session of the World Cities Summit 2010 (28-30 June 2010) in Singapore. A panel of governors and mayors from Southeast Asian cities will also discuss and share urbanisation experiences in their respective cities at this session.

For more info, please contact Ms. TAN Peng Ting (Tan_Peng_Ting@clc.org.sg) at the Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore or Ms. Moe Thuzar (moe@iseas.edu.sg) at the ASEAN Studies Centre, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore