The World Cities Summit 2022: creation of liveable, vibrant and sustainable urban communities around the world

The biennial World Cities Summit (WCS) is an exclusive platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions and forge new partnerships.

This 8th edition of WCS will be an in-person conference held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The 4-day event, taking place from 31 July to 3 August 2022, will comprise the main conference, which includes plenaries and tracks, and other key events such as the Lee Kuan Yew World Prize Lecture, Award Ceremony and Banquet, WCS Mayors Forum, WCS Young Leaders Symposium, and an expo. Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, inaugurated in 2010 and named after Singapore’s first Prime Minister, the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, is a biennial international award that honors outstanding achievements and contributions to the creation of liveable, vibrant and sustainable urban communities around the world.

 Apart from traditional highlights such as the WCS Mayors Forum, Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize and WCS Young Leaders, WCS will be held jointly with the Asia Infrastructure Forum, which will take place from 2 – 3 August 2022. With its theme of Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Emerging Stronger, the Summit 2022 is a convening point for global mayors, business leaders and knowledge experts to exchange and co-create city solutions for liveable and sustainable cities, and will engage cities, businesses and experts at the highest levels to discuss how cities can emerge stronger through prolonged and unpredictable disruptions.

This WCS 2022 will also see the inaugural in-person WCS Smart Cities Workshop, following the success of the virtual edition in 2021 to advance city’s smart city projects through one-on-one consultation clinics with suitable partners and funders.

Since its inauguration in 2008, WCS has been attended by over 250 global cities and supported by leaders from government, business, international organizations and academia. Jointly organized by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the biennial WCS returns to a in-person conference in 2022 after a largely virtual Summit in 2021 with highlights of the Summit including the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, and the WCS Mayors Forum.

Annually, Quang Ngai sends delegations to attend WCS and engage with the theme on how cities can emerge stronger from contemporary disruptions across five tracks: Sustainable Financing, Smart Cities, Development and Planning, Urban Resilience and Liveable Future Cities through the plenaries and tracks of the main conference. This exclusive platform brings precious opportunities to Quang Ngai leaders to address livable and sustainable city challenges and share integrated urban solutions and forge new partnerships.

Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WSC 2021 was held as a largely virtual event with participants from many cities across the world including provinces and cities of Vietnam.

Quang Ngai PCC Vice Chairman Vo Phien led the provincial delegation to attend the virtual WCS  2021 held in Singapore last year via a digital platfo

Up to now, in Quang Ngai province, there are 11 projects of investors from Singapore licensed to invest with a total investment capital of 491,34 million USD; in which, there are 9 investment projects in Dung Quat Economic Zone with a total registered investment of more than 410 million USD. In other industrial parks, there are 02 projects with a total registered investment of more than 80 million USD.

In particular, the  Vietnam – Singapore Quang Ngai Urban, Services and Industrial Park  (VSIP Quang Ngai), invested by the Singaporean SembCorp Group and implemented in Tinh Phong industrial park in Tinh Phong commune, Son Tinh district, has been successfully operated in Quang Ngai for 10 years. With a total investment capital of around 140 million USD, the project ‘s Investment Certificate was granted in April 2012. After that, the project was officially inaugurated in September 2013. Up to now, 32 secondary investment projects in the park have been granted investment registration certificates with a total investment of over 984 million USD, generating incomes and creating jobs for more than 28,000 local labors. In addition, SembCorp Group is studying to invest in a gas power plant project in Dung Quat EZ in the form of a build - operate - transfer (BOT) contract with an estimated investment capital of about 793 million USD.

Vietnam – Singapore Urban, Services and Industrial Park  (VSIP Quang Ngai)

In 2021,  Quang Ngai’s exports to Singapore reached 5.4 million USD. In the first 6 months of 2022,  it was estimated that export turnover reached at 11.7 million USD. The province’s main exports include inductors and transformers used in electronic equipment production,  indoor furniture  (sofas), shoes making and leather, fabric, garments and clothing, confectionery, tapioca starch.

In 2021, Quang Ngai’s import turnover reached US$3.1 million USD in the market of Singapore. In the first six months of 2022, it was estimated that imports to Singapore reached US$1.8 million. Main imports include raw materials used in the production of shoes and leather, spices and flavor extract in beer brewing and milk production,  confectionery, equipment, material and spare parts.

In line with the long-term development strategy of Viet Nam and the nation’s 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Quang Ngai is endeavoring to achieve  the sustainable socio-economic development by commiting to mobilizing all domestic and international resources and the participation of government ministries and agencies at all levels, organizations, communities and the people. To reach the goals, the province continues attracting investment, focusing on sectors with comparative advantages to create high added value, maintain the province’s efficient and sustainable economic growth and develop towards a modern industrialized and fairly developed province by 2025.

Quang Ngai is now encouraging investment in several fields, including heavy, light and supporting industries, oil refining and petrochemicals, metal and steel manufacture, seaports, logistics services, tourism services,  accommodations building for workers and experts, and IP and urban infrastructure. Other industries that will be courted for investment include food processing, consumer goods, textile and garment, light industries serving oil and gas and chemical industries, and mining. The province also focuses on alluring modern industrial projects from foreign investors and enterprises that cause  less environmental pollution, apply advanced and developed technology and have high quality operation and management.

Da Thao