Malaysia is set to become the first Southeast Asian country to host the region’s inaugural Smart City Expo – a spin-off of the Smart City Expo World Congress that’s held annually in Barcelona. The event in question, officially known as the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL25), is scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 September 2025, co-organised by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) for the Ministry of Digital.
For those who are unfamiliar, the Smart City Expo World Congress was first established by the Fira de Barcelona trade fair institution in 2011, and is the world’s largest and most influential event dedicated to urban innovation. Held annually, it brings together over 25,000 attendees, including city leaders, industry experts and technology pioneers, to shape the future of cities.
SCEKL25’s was officially announced earlier today during an event to commemorate its 100-day countdown, which was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Among those attending include Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, along with MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil and DNB CEO Datuk Azman Ismail.
Under the theme “AI Cities: Shaping Our Digital Future”, SCEKL25 aims to position Malaysia as a leading hub for smart city innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable urban development. The expo will focus on four strategic pillars: AI Cities, Sustainable and Resilient Cities, Digital Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, and Community Empowerment through Digital Solutions. These align with Malaysia’s aspiration to become a Smart Nation by 2040, as outlined in the Fourth National Physical Plan (NPP4).
During the event, Gobind highlighted the significance of SCEKL25, calling it a bold step towards Malaysia’s ambition to become a leading regional digital hub. Anuar Fariz described the expo as a catalyst for Southeast Asia’s smart city revolution, while Datuk Azman emphasised the role of nationwide 5G infrastructure in powering Malaysia’s AI-driven city ambitions — enabling real-time data, intelligent systems, and sustainable urban solutions.
With Malaysia assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship this year, SCEKL25 will play a key role in advancing the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity 2025, strengthening linkages across the region. The expo is expected to attract over 2,000 delegates and 10,000 visitors, including international participants, catalysing trade, foreign direct investment, and cross-border partnerships.
Key partners for the event include diamond partners Dell Technologies and Intel, official innovation partner Huawei, and gold partner Ericsson. Meanwhile, strategic partners include the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Malaysia Smart Cities Alliance (MSCA), Smart Cities Network, and the Malaysia PropTech Association.
