KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — Malaysia will host the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 (SCEKL25) in September, marking its first international event focused on smart cities and positioning the country as a key regional hub for AI-driven urban development.
Scheduled to take place from September 17 to 19 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the expo is set to draw more than 2,000 delegates and over 10,000 visitors.
SCEKL25 will be the first Southeast Asian edition of the globally renowned Smart City Expo World Congress. It is spearheaded by the Digital Ministry through its agencies, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB).
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the event will serve as a strategic platform for technology providers and AI-driven smart city solution players, reinforcing Malaysia’s leadership in regional digital innovation.
“SCEKL25 is about accelerating a new urban vision — one that is green, efficient, and inclusive, with the people at the heart of every innovation,” he said in a statement today.
According to Gobind, the expo supports Malaysia’s aspirations under the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, aligns with regional efforts through the Asean Smart Cities Network, and complements the country’s ambition to become a Smart Nation by 2040.
MDEC, under the Digital Ministry, is spearheading the AI Cities initiatives through targeted pilot projects in selected areas across the country.
Meanwhile, MDEC chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil in the statement said the expo will showcase Malaysia’s transformation into a digitally connected society, highlighting projects such as predictive traffic systems in Penang, smart traffic optimisation in Kuala Lumpur, and AI-powered geospatial solutions in Sabah.
“Our smart cities will be rakyat-first and planet-conscious, delivering faster and more adaptive public services. With robust digital infrastructure to drive inclusive growth, startups and SMEs will be able to scale beyond borders,” he said.
DNB chief executive officer Datuk Azman Ismail added that hosting the event would bring strategic benefits to Malaysia, including boosting economic growth through business tourism and attracting foreign investment.
“SCEKL25 will elevate Malaysia’s global profile in smart city innovation, while driving economic growth through business tourism and strategic foreign investment,” he said.
Held under the theme “AI Cities: Shaping Our Digital Future”, the expo will feature cutting-edge technologies, infrastructure solutions, and future-ready mobility systems aimed at building inclusive and resilient urban centres.
More information is available on the SCEKL25 website.
— Bernama
