The NYDC team participated in the 2019 ULI Asia Pacific Summit that was held in Shanghai, China from 11th to 13th of June 2019.
Urban Land Institute, commonly known as ULI, is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. It was founded in 1936 with offices in Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Hundreds of cross-disciplinary land development and town planning specialists attended this forum with the common goal of turning cities into better living spaces for people from all walks of life. With Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) continuous research, analysis, input on space planning, and land development, their efforts have added remarkable value to this purpose.
During the project analysis roundtable session, the NYDC team and I jointly presented the New Yangon City project to approximately 15 top multi-discipline specialists who participated in the panel discussion. Among the panelists were academic professors, industry specialists, and a former mayor from Pittsburgh, United States.
We started the panel by introducing the New Yangon City’s master planning process as well as the collaborative works of our consultants. The NYDC team then explained our policies and methods towards achieving transparency and proper governance, which the panellists agreed were critical for project success. Some of the topics discussed included flood risk assessments, transport and traffic plans, the on-ground survey team, and the implementation plan for Stage 1 of the project.
During the panel, the panellists provided their perspectives and professional advice on sustainable development, good governance, transportation, and city development financing. I am very heartened at their commitment towards sustainable development; it goes beyond a typical environmental impact analysis, taking into consideration both the sustainability of the project as well as its positive impact and contribution to the community.
While on the topic of transportation, one of the panellists suggested the consideration of four transport modes – walking, cycling, buses, and Metro Rapid Transport (MRT)/water transport. To improve overall liveability, the construction of shaded pavements will also be included in the city’s special planning.
During the summit, I spoke on a separate panel and shared the need for infrastructure investment in Myanmar. As such, I encouraged potential investors to regain confidence in our country.
Overall, the experience from this summit was rewarding. The NYDC team and I will assess the feedback received and implement them in future design development, sustainability, and implementation guidelines for the New Yangon City project.
Regards,
Serge Pun