The Seoul Metropolitan Government is set to share successful policies with Colombo, Sri Lanka; Bogor, Indonesia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Bangladesh, all of whom took part in the International Forum on Urban Policy for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held in Seoul between June 8 and June 10. The policies include those associated with e-Government, intelligent transportation system, smart city development, and others.

The form, co-hosted by the SMG, the UN ESCAP, and CityNet (The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements), was attended by 500-plus people including government representatives (eight mayors, 5 vice mayors, and a vice minister-level official) of 38 cities and guests from 11 central government institutions. Attendees discussed proactive ways of putting the SDGs for 2016-2030 adopted at the UNDP Summit of September 2015 into practice.

The SMG expects first to share its information technology-based 119 Firefighting and Anti-Disaster System with Bangladesh, based on the MOU signed between the Fire ＆ Disaster Headquarters of the SMG and its counterpart in Bangladesh on June 9. The headquarters will provide a consulting and service module for adaptation of its system to the local situation of Bangladesh.



With regard to the plan to share the tax administration and waste management systems with Colombo, Sri Lanka, an MOU was signed by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil on June 8.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, which has maintained a relationship of close cooperation in transportation with the SMG, will adopt the Seoul-type transportation card system and the intelligent-type transportation system.

Bogor, Indonesia will adopt the SMG’s policy on urban development in general, with an according Letter Of Intent having been signed by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto on June 8.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia plans to benchmark the SMG’s programs for education of city officials and development of urban policies. As part of the plan, a delegation led by the Mayor of the city will pay a visit to the SMG in August to attend an educational session provided by the SMG.

Meanwhile, attendees to the forum adopted the Seoul Communiqué on Urban Policy for the SDGs for 2030 after a heated three-day discussion. The Seoul Communiqué contains five items designed to realize the motto of the SDGs adopted at the UNDP meeting held in September 2015, “No one shall be left behind.”


▶ Click the below to read the full text of the Seoul Communiqué on Urban Policy for the SDGs 2030 (English version).