SALUTATION
1. Yang Berbahagia Tuan Fabian Bigar
Secretary General, Ministry of Digital
2. Mr. Ricard Zapetero
Chief Executive Officer, Fira International
3. Yang Berbahagia Datuk Azman Ismail
Chief Executive Officer, Digital National Berhad
4. Yang Berusaha Encik Anuar Fariz Fadzil
Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation
5. Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid
Chief Corporate Officer, Digital National Berhad
6. Your Excellencies and Foreign Dignitaries
7. Honourable Mayors and City Leaders Distinguished Partners, Speakers, Sponsors, and Exhibitors
Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI and a very good Morning.
1. It It is my great privilege to welcome you to SmartCity Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 — the first-ever edition of this globally renowned urban innovation event to be held in Southeast Asia.
SIGNIFICANCE OF KUALA LUMPUR HOSTING SMARTCITY EXPO
2. For Kuala Lumpur and for Malaysia, hosting SmartCity Expo is more than an honour. It is a recognition of our region’s growing role in shaping the global urban future.
3. From Barcelona to Shanghai, New York to São Paulo, SmartCity Expo has become the platform where the most pressing questions of urban transformation are debated.
4. Today, Kuala Lumpur proudly joins this global network — placing Southeast Asia at the heart of conversations about how cities can harness innovation to become more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. PROGRAMME OVERVIEW – 4 THEMES + CITY LEADERS PROGRAMME
5. Over the next three days, SCEKL2025 will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, and community advocates to push the boundaries of urban evolution.
6. Through expert sharing, panel talks, fireside chats, pitching labs, networking sessions, and engaging exhibition booths, this event offers opportunities to be inspired, explore ideas, and forge connections that spark new possibilities.
7. Our discussions will be framed around four key themes:
A. AI Cities – exploring how artificial intelligence powers next-generation infrastructure and citizen services;
B. Sustainable & Resilient Cities – addressing the climate challenge while strengthening urban resilience and energy transition;
C. Digital Entrepreneurship & Economic Development – unlocking opportunities for start-ups, SMEs, and investors in the digital economy; and
D. Community Empowerment through Digital Solutions – ensuring technology uplifts lives and delivers real benefits to families and communities.
8. This year, more than 120 exhibitors will present their innovations and practical applications — offering a diverse showcase of how technology can transform cities and communities. The exhibition floor will spotlight some of the most exciting innovations in urban technology:
A. Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), our City Partner, will present an interactive showcase of the KL Command & Control Centre and immersive VR experiences to illustrate the city’s journey toward becoming a liveable, sustainable, and future-ready metropolis;
B. Dell and Intel will demonstrate digital twins, large language and video models, smart sensors, intelligent edge devices, and agentic AI solutions tailored for Malaysian cities; and
C. Huawei will present an immersive pavilion featuring its Intelligent Operation Center and AI-driven urban solutions, showcasing how data and AI can enhance traffic optimisation, public safety, and flood management.
9. Yet technology alone is not enough — which is why the heart of this gathering is the City Leaders Programme, Malaysia’s flagship contribution to the SmartCity Expo series. This special hosted session will see mayors, governors, and senior decision-makers from across ASEAN and beyond exchange experiences, share insights, forge partnerships, and chart practical pathways for digital transformation that improve lives in their cities.
10. This is where the strength of SCEKL truly lies — in collaboration. The presence of 22 mayors and city leaders, from the Philippines to Thailand, demonstrates our shared commitment to shaping a common urban future. By working together, our cities can learn from one another, share best practices, and build solutions to challenges that transcend borders.
11. Equally important, this Expo is a platform to showcase Malaysia’s own talent ecosystem. Our homegrown innovators are here not only to learn from global peers, but to share homegrown solutions that have the potential to scale internationally. Platforms like this demonstrate that Malaysia is not just a consumer of technology, but also a contributor to global innovation.
SCEKL AS A CATALYST FOR AN AI NATION
Ladies and Gentlemen,
12. This year’s theme, “AI Cities: Shaping Our Digital Future,” reminds us that artificial intelligence is no longer abstract — it is rapidly becoming an essential enabler of modern urban life.
13. AI is reshaping how we move, live, learn, work, and care for our loved ones. It is helping community leaders manage resources, prepare for eventualities, and govern entire cities.
14. Malaysia’s vision of becoming an AI Nation is more than a technological ambition — it is a national transformation agenda. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the country is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional leader in artificial intelligence, guided by the principles of productivity, inclusivity, and public well-being.
15. At the heart of this initiative is the AI Nation 2030 roadmap, which aligns with the broader Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint and the National 4IR Policy, reinforcing AI as a national transformation agenda. The roadmap identifies agriculture, education, healthcare, smart cities, transport, and public services as strategic areas for AI 6 adoption. These sectors were chosen for their potential to deliver high-impact outcomes, improve service delivery, and enhance quality of life — especially in underserved communities.
16. Ultimately, the AI Nation vision is about empowering people — not just through technology, but through opportunity, inclusion, and trust. It’s about ensuring that artificial intelligence serves more than just industry or government; it must uplift communities, enhance public services, and improve everyday lives. This vision calls for a future where technology is not only advanced, but also ethical, accessible, and human-centred — where every citizen benefits from innovation, and no one is left behind in the digital transformation.
17. Hosting SCEKL paves the way towards Malaysia’s AI Nation vision. By convening global experts, forward-looking mayors, technology leaders, and our own local innovators, this Expo becomes a living laboratory where ideas are tested, partnerships are forged, and AI applications are demonstrated in real-world contexts.
18. It allows us to translate our vision of AI Nation into practice, city by city, community by community. By showcasing real-world applications of AI — from mobility and energy to governance and healthcare — SCEKL transforms vision into action, making the AI Nation not just a policy goal, but a tangible reality unfolding in our cities today.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SPONSORS, PARTNERS & EXHIBITORS
Ladies and Gentlemen,
19. None of this would be possible without the support of our partners.
20. On behalf of the Government of Malaysia, I wish to extend our deepest appreciation to our top sponsors — Dell Technologies, Intel, Huawei, and Ericsson. Your leadership and investment exemplify the kind of cross-sector collaboration that makes transformation possible.
21. To our City Partner, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), thank you for your vision and commitment to shaping a liveable, future-ready capital city.
22. And to all our partners, strategic collaborators, and exhibitors — from Malaysia and around the world — thank you for bringing your expertise, your solutions, and your trust to Kuala Lumpur.
CLOSING
23. As we open this chapter, let us do so with the conviction that the cities we build today will define the future of generations to come.
24. It is therefore my honour, on behalf of the Government of Malaysia and the Ministry of Digital, to announce the commencement of SmartCity Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025. We look forward to the launch of SCEKL tomorrow by the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia.
25. May these next three days ignite the ideas, alliances, and innovations that will shape AI Cities — and deliver a brighter digital future for all.
Thank You.
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