Japan Looks To Cyberjaya As Role Model

By Dalila Abu Bakar KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Japan has selected Cyberjaya as a model of a leading green city for Japanese cities. The Japanese government had invited Cyberjaya to share its green initiatives at an international forum on "FutureCity Initiative" on Feb 21 in Tokyo. Pipah Mohd Nasir, General Manager of Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd, the master developer of Cyberjaya, had illustrated Cyberjaya as an ideal model for public and private sector partnership to realise a self-sustained cycle for value creation which is a core issue in the economic value aspect of FutureCities. "The success factor of Cyberjaya applauded by the audience is that it has a focused approach on becoming an ICT centre along with its second initiative to be a leader in green technology," Pipah told Bernama Friday. The forum was officiated by Hitoshi Goto, Japan’s Senior Vice-Minister for Regional Revitalization. The ultimate objective of the forum was to introduce the FutureCities selected in December 2011 and to disseminate the concept of FutureCity Initiative within and outside Japan. This was used as the platform to build an international network through facilitating the exchange of advice and suggestion by the world's leading intellectuals. Participants of the forum which mainly comprised Japanese policy makers, private companies, government agencies and investors were impressed with the good collaboration and defined roles by the various stakeholders in the development of Cyberjaya. "They felt that the green initiative ideas were worth learning and be adopted. Cyberjaya can be a role model of a leading green city for Japanese cities," Pipah said. In the investment context, Pipah said that big Japanese corporations such as Sumitomo Corporation and Daiwa House had indicated interest to consider Cyberjaya as their next investment corridor in Asia. -- BERNAMA