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US, RI partner to promote Smart Cities in Sumatra
Friendly luncheon: US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake (center) strikes a pose with the US Consul for Sumatra, Y
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Friendly luncheon: US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake (center) strikes a pose with the US Consul for Sumatra, Y. Robert Ewing (standing), and senior officials from several regions across Sumatra after a luncheon held by the ambassador to promote Smart Cities in Sumatra on Monday in Jakarta. (Courtesy of US Embassy in Jakarta) (center) strikes a pose with the US Consul for Sumatra, Y. Robert Ewing (standing), and senior officials from several regions across Sumatra after a luncheon held by the ambassador to promote Smart Cities in Sumatra on Monday in Jakarta. (Courtesy of US Embassy in Jakarta)
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span class="inline inline-center">Friendly luncheon: US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake (center) strikes a pose with the US Consul for Sumatra, Y. Robert Ewing (standing), and senior officials from several regions across Sumatra after a luncheon held by the ambassador to promote Smart Cities in Sumatra on Monday in Jakarta. (Courtesy of US Embassy in Jakarta)
The US government and local provincial administrations in Sumatra are considering the possibility of partnering to develop Smart Cities, an advanced style of urban planning, in regions across the island.
'The Smart Cities innovation provides a new technology which enables us to find effective solutions to overcome challenges in various fields, such as traffic, climate change, waste management and limited access to internet,' Ambassador Blake said in a seminar on the implementation of Smart City solutions hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday.
'Changes resulting from the innovation will create job opportunities with higher wage levels and capabilities to take advantage of the global market,' he went on.
Representatives from the US consulate in Medan and PwC Indonesia along with innovative local leaders from provinces across Sumatra participated in the seminar.
Deputy chief of Mission US Embassy in Jakarta, Kristen Bauer, US consul for Sumatra Y. Robert Ewing and the director of US Trade Department in Jakarta, Rosemary Gallant, as well as PwC Indonesia's adviser for the public sector and Smart Cities, Malcolm Foo, were present at the event.
Smart Cities is an urban planning concept that promotes the use of technology to boost both government work performances and people's prosperity, while at the same time reducing spending.
'Smart Cities increase innovation, produce technology, promote public participation and investment in urban infrastructure, which enriches living standards, provide a positive climate for business investment and improve resource management and government transparency and accountability,' said the US Embassy in a release made available to The Jakarta Post.
During the luncheon event, several governors and mayors met with American businesspeople who offered Smart City technology, products and consultation services.
Local leaders from several cities in Sumatra, such as Banda Aceh, Binjai, Medan, Padang, Pangkal Pinang and Pekanbaru, have reportedly expressed their interests in implementing the Smart City solution in their areas. (ebf)(+++)
