Both Jakarta and West Java capital Bandung have both been deemed "smart cities" in a region-wide research project from the Economist Intelligence Unit, thanks to recent technology programs adopted by local government in both cities. Jakarta and Bandung are among 20 cities across Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific identified by Startup My City, a research program by EIU, a branch of the Economist Group which provides global economic data and advisory services for industry overviews, and sponsored by Hitachi.
The study features other Asean cities Bangkok, Danang, Davao City, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Siem Reap, Singapore and Yangon. The identified Asia-Pacific cities are Auckland, Chennai, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo.
A team of five experts — including Sangay Penjor, the urban and social sectors division director of the Asian Development Bank, chief executive of CyberSecurity Malaysia Amirudin Bin Abdul Wahab and Singapore's Smart Nation program officer head Tam Kok Yam — feature on the EIU's advisory board reviewed and selected the cities.
Mathias Steck, executive vice president and Asia Pacific manager at DNV GL Energy, and Freddy Boey, provost of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, were also part of the team.
Jakarta’s Smart City program
Jakarta was celebrated as smart city for the use of technology in improving the city's notorious traffic congestion.
“Four advisory board members selected Jakarta as a smart city, two of whom mentioned the city’s smart transportation initiatives among other reasons,” the Startup My City report said.
A key indicator in Jakarta's Smart City program which was highly commended in the research is the local government move to help residents improve the quality of human resources under the city's Smart People program.
The administration has released education programs to assist students up until university, including the Jakarta Smart Cards (KJP) which funds underprivileged students to access education via the Regional Government Budget.
“According to the EIU survey, local residents said the main benefits of making their city smart was easier access to government services,” the report found.
The mobile app Qlue, launched by the government in 2012, allows citizens to upload complaints about their neighborhood of government services directly to the government.
Local government transparency is a major priority for incumbent Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, with government websites reformed under his watch to allow easier navigation of regulations.
The city's Smart Environment was also noted in the EIU research. The city is working towards creating more open spaces in the city, alongside efforts to clean up waterways.
The government has also established efforts boost job opportunities and productivity through entrepreneurship and innovation programs.
Bandung’s Smart City program
Bandung was chosen as a smart city because of the implementation of technology in some areas which has helped residents access government services and an active role of the city’s leader to communicate with the community through social media channels.
“Three advisory board members selected Bandung as a smart city primarily due to its technology initiatives in areas such as online government services, public Wi-Fi, and fast Internet connections as well as the availability and quality of local apps,” the report said.
The research showed Bandung residents agree they can get easier access to government services using digital channels including a dedicated app.
With the help of 5,000 free public Wi-Fi hotspots in the city, the local government has been increasing e-government app usage to ease public services. Filing a complaint, school admission and healthcare services can all be accessed online.
The EIU research said Bandung residents felt the city now has a better governance through various programs involving technology. This include the implementation of online budgeting and citizen interaction with the city’s leader through social media.
Bandung mayor Ridwan Kamil is a heavy user of social media site Instagram sharing his activity as leader of the city.
Residents also said they enjoy a much greener environment, thanks to Bandung’s Smart Green Space, which sees the city administration’s program that started in 2015 develop more green areas.
Bandung, one of the top five biggest cities in Indonesia, has been active in developing digital skills helping provide more job opportunities in the field of technology-oriented business, such as a start-ups.
Bandung Digital Valley is a place for start-up companies to begin their journey, where they are given a mentoring program, an office space, and other facilities.
“Bandung is home to over 80 higher education entities, including the Indonesia’s largest technology university (ITB), that have the ability to provide the city with access to digital skills,” the report said.
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Quelle/Source: The Jakarta Globe, 28.09.2916
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