Earlier this week, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) held high-level discussions with a delegation from the Republic of Korea as part of its strategic push for smart urban transformation under its Mumbai 3.0 vision. Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, led the discussions at the India Global Forum, which took place at the Jio World Centre.
Top representatives from government organisations, academic institutions, research centres, and multinational IT firms made up the Korean delegation. The World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF), Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ) were among the important participants. This partnership expands upon the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Mumbai became a member of the WSCF’s Global Twin Cities Platform.
The main topics of discussion were how to replicate Incheon’s development into a smart economy worth $100 billion and whether Mumbai could benefit from it. Transit-oriented development (TOD), innovation centres, green mobility, AI-powered governance, smart infrastructure, and sustainable housing were all on the agenda.
WSCF President Jaewon Peter Chun and Grant Guk-hwan Cho (Kanavi Mobility) were joined by senior Korean leaders Sang-ho Lee (IFEZ), Byeong-il Woo (KOTRA Mumbai), and Dr. Young-sup Joo (Seoul National University) to exchange investment strategies and views.
Key levers to increase FDI in Mumbai’s logistics parks, fintech zones, and smart corridors were reviewed, including IFEZ’s innovation-led investment approach and KOTRA’s global trade network. Knowledge sharing and pilot initiatives are anticipated to come next.
Dr. Mukherjee emphasised that this collaboration brings high-tech know-how and global best practices to Mumbai. “It will strengthen Mumbai’s position in the global smart city ecosystem, unlock employment potential, and catalyse inclusive development,” he said.
As momentum grows, MMRDA is poised to usher in a new era of urbanisation that is ready for the future and in line with international innovation standards.
Source: Prop News Time
