Iskandar, Malaysia – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced it will provide grant funding for technical assistance that will transform how Malaysia’s fast-growing Iskandar region manages its urban planning and development through advanced data analytics.
“USTDA’s targeted investments will help Malaysia collect, manage and disseminate data that will facilitate urban planning and policy making,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “U.S. companies possess the most innovative and cutting-edge solutions in this policy space and are eager to partner with Malaysia to achieve its ambitious smart city goals.”
Specifically, USTDA’s grant to the Iskandar Regional Development Authority will develop implementation plans for the Iskandar Malaysia Urban Observatory (IMUO) project, a top smart cities priority for Malaysia. Iskandar is a vital trade and commercial hub within the State of Johor in Southern Malaysia and encompasses more than 1.8 million people across five cities. Through the use of smart technologies and advanced regional data analytics, Malaysia foresees Iskandar becoming a premier sustainable and inclusive “smart region.”
“The U.S. Embassy in Malaysia, in partnership with USTDA, supports this exciting opportunity to develop the technical knowledge and tools that the Iskandar region will use to contribute to Malaysia’s digital transformation,” said U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir.
“We are pleased to have received the trust, acknowledgement and support, from USTDA in this big data initiative that will definitely benefit the many parties within and around the region,” said YBhg Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA.”
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded technical assistance should visit the USTDA website at https://ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project/.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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