Shaping Cities of Value

As featured on BusinessMirror:  Shaping Cities of Value

Cities are potentially the most powerful driver of value for communities in the Asia Pacific region – but only if leaders continue to prioritize sustainable impact and citizen wellbeing.

In October 2023, KPMG was privileged to be a major partner of the 2023 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayors’ Forum: Shaping Cities for our Future. The Summit drew leaders from 171 cities who came together  to explore and discuss how city innovation can deliver accelerated and lasting impact. The City Leaders’ Forum, facilitated by KPMG, was a highlight of the Summit and  provided a powerful opportunity for attendees to share strategies and insights into the delivery of lasting value to citizens.

Based on the outcomes of the Forum, KPMG developed a key framework to help city leaders unlock new and innovative forms of value for their citizens.

Cities have the power to create diverse forms of immense value, including social, economic, environmental, lifestyle, cultural and beyond. KPMG’s Cities of Value Framework has been designed to empower city leaders to unearth these layers through three strategic pillars.

Increasing urbanization across emerging and developed cities is driving growth in demand for city services in the Asia Pacific region. City authorities must do more with less- finding ways to drive greater resilience and productivity from their organizations. Accessing and using technology is more prevalent in the urban context than rural areas and demand is not abating. This growing appetite for digital services and interactions, expedited through the COVID-19 pandemic, is leading to an increase in the volumes of data generated by citizens, business and visitors.

It was clear from discussions at the City Leaders' Forum that citizens expect the same (or better) seamless, intuitive, personalized and multichannel services that they receive through the private sector - there is a strong intersection between the quality of citizen experience and the outcomes delivered by city services.' Cities should listen to and understand what's most impactful for their citizens and collaborate across organizational boundaries to reduce friction points. To achieve this, every city outcome needs to be technology enabled, data driven and digitally delivered, while placing citizen needs at the center.

We heard from city leaders that they are under immense pressure to attract and retain residents, tourists, businesses, and capital. This coincides with work from home, public safety, housing affordability and other pressures that are transforming the way cities are planned, designed and built.

The physical urban environment has never been more important to the value of cities. With the pandemic ushering in new models of work, live and play, cities are facing unprecedented challenges in attracting residents, tourists and new business - and the economic benefits that come with them. This means the need for innovation has never been greater - think the development of exciting new places, convenient and rapid forms of mobility, compelling and accessible events, diverse customer offerings, energetic workplaces, inclusive housing solutions and best practice public safety.

Sustainability is imperative for Cities of Value. City leaders are striving to deliver on the multidimensional balancing act of economic growth and social equity, while preserving cultural heritage amidst rapid development. This includes the responsible stewardship of the environment in the face of urbanization trends.

Across each of these pillars, we’ve identified three critical enabling characteristics that cities should foster and nurture. These enabling characteristics will help to drive long-lasting value.

Understanding citizen needs and investing in the capabilities required to stay in tune as needs evolve; making these a central tenet of the decision-making framework when developing policies, designing solutions and delivering services.

Forging partnerships among the city and other levels of government, education institutions, private industry, community groups and not- for-profits on programs, projects, services and solutions.

Accessing sustainable funding and financing solutions - from private and public sources - that enable cities to deliver exciting new digital, physical and sustainable solutions.

KPMG in the Philippines Vice Chairman, COO and Head of Advisory Emmanuel Bonoan who attended the summit emphasized the significance of the event, noting that it provided an opportunity for leaders in the Asia Pacific region to share strategies and insights into how their cities can rapidly and effectively transform communities. 

KPMG is passionate about supporting cities on the journey to a more sustainable and prosperous future. We have a strong track record of working with leaders from cities at all stages of their maturity to help drive lifestyle, economic, social and environmental value to their communities. We’re committed to collaborating with cities to identify and build on new forms of community value now and into the future.