International Training Workshop on Smart Cities in Asia and the Pacific (13-15 May 2025, Kobe, Japan)

From 13 to 15 May 2025, the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) of Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG)/United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will organize the “International Training Workshop on Smart Cities in Asia and the Pacific” in Kobe, Japan. Held under the theme “Building Safe, Resilient, Inclusive, Livable, and Sustainable Cities and Communities,” the workshop will bring together nineteen participants, including five mayors and deputy governors, from local governments and organizations in Asia and the Pacific, representing Battambang, Chiang Mai, Dhulikhel, Makassar, Nusantara, Penang Island, Seberang Perai, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and Thailand (DEPA).

The objective of the workshop is to strengthen the capacity of local leaders, urban planners, and policymakers to develop smart, resilient cities -- with a particular focus on earthquake and flood risk reduction -- through the adoption of innovative technologies and sustainable urban solutions. Participants will also explore strategies to bolster community resilience and advance local SDG implementation by engage in technical visits, group exercises, and expert discussions with Japanese national/local governments, UN agencies, and the private sector.

For details of the international workshop, please see the concept note and programme.