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Smart Cities in Southeast Asia
Find out more on how companies operating effectively in this space have identified public problems and come up with digitally enabled solutions, many of which can be introduced quickly and cost-effectively.
Last updated 1 March 2025
Smart Cities in Southeast Asia
While good management is a critical element in a smart city, governments are not the only actors. Smart cities are not just top-down initiatives; they actively engage corporations and residents in making the overall ecosystem more efficient. In fact, many of the innovations that are changing the fabric of cities worldwide, such as e-hailing and smart office buildings, are revenue-generating ventures introduced by private-sector companies. Companies operating effectively in this space have identified public problems and come up with digitally enabled solutions, many of which can be introduced quickly and cost-effectively.
Recent MGI research examined how the current generation of smart city technologies can perform in a variety of urban settings worldwide. It found that they can improve many quality-of-life indicators by 10 to 30 percent. They can save time, improve public health and safety, create a cleaner and more sustainable environment, and foster a sense of community and civic engagement. This paper takes a more focused regional view of smart cities and their potential in Southeast Asia.