(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.
Vittaya Yoondorn
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.
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
