Taiwan's Smart City Summit sees record overseas visitors

The 12th Smart City Summit & Expo (SCSE) opened in Taipei on Tuesday. This important event, focusing on smart city innovations, saw a record 2,806 overseas visitors from 59 countries and 138 cities. This is a 28 percent increase in international attendance compared to last year. The opening ceremony featured key leaders including Paul S.L. Peng from the Taipei Computer Association, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, and Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Charles Lin. The summit takes place at two locations: the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from March 18 to 21, and the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center from March 20 to 22. Peng highlighted that this year's summit emphasizes artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in building smarter cities. He mentioned how Taipei and Kaohsiung are leading in digital supply chains and sustainable infrastructure. The event also attracted 569 mayors and representatives who are here to engage with Taiwanese cities and businesses. A notable group from Ukraine, consisting of 11 cities, is attending to explore smart technology solutions for rebuilding efforts. Delegations from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and Japan are also participating. Additionally, 83 chambers of commerce and technology associations have sent representatives. AI is a key focus this year, as Taiwan plays an important role in the global AI hardware supply chain. Twelve Taiwanese cities are showcasing their initiatives towards smart cities and achieving net-zero emissions. Net zero means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases produced with what is removed from the atmosphere.