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MALAYSIA will play host to Southeast Asia’s first-ever edition of the internationally acclaimed Smart City Expo World Congress, alongside the ASEAN Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI), reinforcing its ambitions to lead regional conversations on urban innovation and AI development.
The ASEAN AI Summit will be held from 12 to 13 August 2025, followed by Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL2025) from 17 to 19 September.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the events mark a pivotal moment for Malaysia as this year’s ASEAN Chair, highlighting its growing role in shaping urban futures and regional digital transformation.
“With both ecosystem and infrastructure in place, Malaysia is not only ready to host SCEKL2025 — we are ready to lead the development of AI Cities across ASEAN,” he said at the launch of the 100-day countdown to the expo.
Bernama cited Gobind adding that Malaysia’s hosting of SCEKL2025 is part of its broader commitment to the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), which currently includes 34 participating cities from across the region.
The ASCN, launched in 2018 with 26 pilot cities, is a collaborative platform dedicated to advancing smart and sustainable urban development across the 10 ASEAN Member States.
Malaysia is also steering progress on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which aims to unlock an estimated US\$2 trillion in digital economic potential by 2030.
“Hosting SCEKL2025 is part of this broader leadership agenda. It positions Malaysia as a regional hub for smart city innovation, public-private collaboration, and inclusive digital development,” said Gobind.
SCEKL2025 is expected to attract over 10,000 delegates and 300 exhibitors from more than 20 countries, offering a platform for investor engagement, real-world technology showcases, and actionable urban solutions.
Among its key supporters are global technology leaders such as Dell, Intel, Ericsson, and Huawei, as well as local and regional associations including the Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance, Smart Cities Network, The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), and the Malaysia PropTech Association. - June 4, 2025