IBM has chosen Chonburi Province as one of 33 cities worldwide to join its Smarter Cities Challenge, a program to help cities address some their most-critical challenges.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai and Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome welcomed IBM Thailand Smarter Cities head Kittipong Assawappitchayanont to Pattaya City Hall Oct. 29. Kittipong will lead a team that will focus on security and transportation in Pattaya and development of Laem Chabang Port.
The Smarter Cities Challenge was launched by the IBM Citizenship program in 2010 to offer the time and expertise of the company’s top experts from different business units and geographies for three-week consultations with city leaders to deliver recommendations on how to make cities smarter and more effective.
(L to R) Lt. Sythinant Hattawong, director of Laem Chabang pier, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Chonburi Governor Khomsan Ekachai, and IBM Thailand Smarter Cities head Kittipong Assawappitchayanont launch the challenge.
Nine of this year’s 33 cities come from Asia, joining 44 others previously selected globally, including Chiang Mai, where IBM focused the city on “Smarter Healthcare” and “Smarter Food.”
Smarter Healthcare was focused on making both Chiang Mai and the University Medical clinic a medical hub as well as improving hospital efficiencies. Smarter Food was focused on creating insight on agriculture data for farmers, helping with pricing, weather forecasting, crop supply and demand, and the branding of Chiang Mai produce.
In Pattaya, executives will focus on security, traffic management, and cleanliness.
The major work in the province, however, will focus on Laem Chabang, having IBM experts review its multi-year expansion project with an eye toward making it a regional logistics hub for the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Executives will study traffic in and around the port and the impact of development on the surrounding environment.
IBM consultants will meet with public officials in Pattaya through Nov. 15.
Online: http://smartercities challenge.org/index.html
