Smart cities need more infrastructure

HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Around 100 architects, master planners and officials have discussed the latest smart-city strategies and solutions at the Science Conference of Urban Management in Ho Chi Minh City: Reality, Problem and Solutions.

The conference which opened in HCM City on October 11 is focusing on smart city solutions in six categories: community, governance, urban planning, infrastructure, city education and mobility.

Tran Ngoc Chinh, chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, said the conference’s purpose was to disseminate professional knowledge, share practical experiences and increase the capability of regional and urban experts.

The sharply increasing population has exerted enormous pressure on HCM City’s infrastructure, and smart city development will be able to transform urban management by using technology.

However, since the city still lacks sufficient capital for development, it needs to attract more investment and place a high value on its most important resources.

Growing urban problems such as land subsidence, flooding, waste, traffic congestion and affordable housing all need to be addressed.

The city also should build modern satellite towns and develop new housing programmes, especially for poor residents, one expert suggested.

Besides developing infrastructure, city authorities should focus on education and investment in human resources as they are the most important factor in HCM City’s future development, experts said.

High-quality human resources will be the driving force in economic development of the city, which is a leader in attracting a large number of workers, professionals, artists and people from other localities in the country.

“HCM City should have special policies to encourage science and technology research," an expert noted.

More than 70 studies about the knowledge economy, innovation and creativity were presented at the meeting. – VNS/VNA