During intensive competition between the cities of Southeast Asia in constructing intelligent cities based on Indonesia technology, it was possible to take care of its existence.
Jakarta, Medan and Makassar remain on the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Smart City Index (SCI) 2025 list, signaling that the transition to the town of the long run shouldn’t be only a discourse.
Although they were unable to achieve the summit, these three cities have great potential and equally complex challenges-from pollution, congestion, to corruption. But behind him there may be a development of progress through the digitization of public services and the satisfaction of residents from higher access to technology.
Now, inter -story cooperation is the important thing not just for survival, but later in the worldwide Smart City Stage.
Strict competition for intelligent cities in Southeast Asia
The World Center for the Competitiveness of the International Institute of Management (IMD) has published the Index Smart City Index (SCI) 2025 list. IMD assesses how intelligent and efficiently proposed “Intelligent City” uses technology to administer urban challenges.
Cities from Southeast Asia are still competing fiercely. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok show significant innovations, due to which the region is considered one of the recent places in the event of intelligent cities world wide.
During this competition, Indonesia still maintains three representatives within the nine best intelligent cities in Southeast Asia in response to IMD. This is a proud achievement, showing that Indonesia is capable of compete with neighboring countries during rapid technological development.
The full Index Smart City 2025 list within the Southeast Asia region is as follows:
- Singapore: rank 9 (Down 4 degrees from 2024)
- Kuala Lumpur: rank 65 (8 places)
- Bangkok: Rank 86 (Down 2 places)
- Hanoi: rank 88 (8 places)
- Ho Chi Minh City: Rank 100 (4 places)
- Jakarta: rank 103 (repaired)
- Medan: rank 113 (down 1st place)
- Makassar: rank 114 (1st place)
- Manila: rank 125 (4th places)
Challenge of the number
In 2025, Jakarta is in the identical position at 103, however the position of Jakarta this 12 months was overtaken by Ho Chi Minh City, which was below Jakarta last 12 months. This led to the emphasis on some primary problems of Jakarta, namely air pollution (68.4%), congestion (66%) and corruption (51.7%).
On the opposite hand, the extent of public satisfaction with the benefit of access to schedules and the acquisition of online public transport tickets (result 82.2) makes public transport make public transport convenient and efficient. This shows that Jakarta has a robust basis by way of digitizing public services, especially within the transport sector.
Meanwhile, Medan City faces the primary challenges that the community may feel. These challenges are related to security problems (58.3%), high unemployment (53.2%) and corruption (49.6%).
However, there may be excellent news: the business world in Medan is appreciated by the community for the potential of opening many latest jobs (78.3%result). In addition, easy accessibility to schedules and buy of online public transport tickets (result 77.8) and looking for online work (rating 77). This is a crucial resource to enhance the Smart City index in the long run.
Unlike Jakarta and Medan, Makassar City has challenges related to the crowded (52.6%), unemployment (52.5%) and corruption (49.6%), which needs to be solved immediately.
However, individuals are satisfied with the benefit of access to online health services (result 74), online work opportunities (result 73.1) and access to public transport schedules and online ticket purchases (result 72.1).
This signifies that Makassar is accessing health services and access to online job offers, that are considered very helpful for residents.
Building a city of the long run: cooperation is crucial
The success of Indonesia in maintaining three cities on the Smart City Index 2025 list shouldn’t be only a number on paper. It shows that amongst great challenges, Indonesia has strong potential to construct smarter and more balanced cities.
Still, there remains to be a great distance. In order not to remain behind everywhere in the world, consistency is crucial from local central governments, it must move quickly to resolve basic issues hindering the pace of change.
Investing in green technology, developing smarter transport systems and improving urban management should be priorities. Not only to survive, but additionally that Indonesian cities increase to the extent of huge cities on the planet.
When the federal government, industry, the private sector and the community walk together, the cut price of Indonesia is shining as a brand new force on the map of an intelligent city on the planet turn out to be more real.
This cooperation will likely be a fuel for creating future cities that should not only intelligent, but additionally vigorous for everybody.
Source:
- https://inet.detik.com/cyberlife/D-7881386/9-besar-smart-city-di-asia-tenggara-2025-ada-yang-dari -indonesia
- https://inet.detik.com/cyberlife/D-7309805/jakarta-asuk-5-smarthity-di-sia-tenggara-tapi-curiun -peringkat
- https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/tech/2025030307114846-39-616539/videoo-kuta-Masa-dan-smart-city-adops-aai-biar-war-makin-nyaman
- https://www.citra.org/2024/09/24/luar-biasa-3-kuota -indonesia-asuk-142-besar-smart-city -index-2024 -ce -ce kah-kota-i-terpilih/#: BESAR%20DI%20Wilayah%20asia%20TengGara.
