"At least 26 cities from 10 ASEAN countries participate in the forum, which was opened by Executive Director Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore, Khoo Teng Chye".
Banyuwangi, E Java (ANTARA News) - Banyuwangi District of East Java Province has been included in ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN).

The Banyuwangi District Head, Abdullah Azwar Anas, said on Tuesday that the Banyuwangi Administration held a sharing session during the ASCN workshop in Singapore.

"At least 26 cities from 10 ASEAN countries participate in the forum, which was opened by Executive Director Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore, Khoo Teng Chye," Azwar stated in a press release.

Anas added that Khoo Teng Chye also served as the Chairman of ASEAN Smart Cities Network 2018.

The administrations share information, best practices, and potential development on their regions.

The forum can be utilized to develop the network and gather innovations from other countries, Anas remarked.

The ASEAN Forum also invited several experts on digital technology sector, poverty alleviation, and international economic development, including World Bank, Alibaba, Grab, Ernst and Young, Huawei, UNESCAP, and UNDP.

The aim of ASCN is to enhance the smart cities development in several appointed regions. The forum also facilitates all regional programs with international counterparts to get the best solution of development.

"Banyuwangi is carrying the Smart Kampung program. We reiterated how technology can support the change of village area in public service, education, health, and economic sectors," Anas revealed.

Smart Kampung is the development program initiated by Banyuwangi District to bring public service to the village administration level.

Each village is designed to have an integrated program framework that combines the use of information technology and fiber-optic communications, creative and productive economic activities, improving education and health, as well as poverty alleviation efforts.

There are 167 from 189 villages that have been integrated by fiber optic-based internet.

Reporter: Masuki M Astro
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
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