composed of open green spaces and low-rise
Lavasa City Master Plan in their construction of
residential areas. The two main characteristics that
schools and village rehabilitation in the indigenous
make this city smart and competitive are efficient
villages around the site. The city’s mission is to
social interactions and a strong ICT network.
respond to rural-to-urban migration by diverting migrants through the new city.
Next, Fahd Al Rasheed presented the Again,
These “cities from scratch” face the same
the aim of this new city of two million people is to
questions and challenges about building a city
diversify the sources of economic growth, currently
from the top-down and incorporating the “bottom-
dependent on oil.
The government did not
up.” Due to their diverse experiences and contexts,
financially support the project, but allowed it to be
their responses to these challenges differ. For
developed through an economic zone with
example, while Skolkovo impressed upon the fact
specific regulations. Thirty global companies and
that they try to assemble all stakeholders to mix
10 billion euros have been transferred to King
bottom-up with top-down, Suzhou lamented the
Abdullah during the last six years. The city is now
government limitations in China inhibiting a lot of
entering its operational phase. The private sector is
bottom-up initiatives. Various visions are
able to evaluate this project through consumer
complimentary, however, such as the fact that all
behaviors, so that it can readjust and update
plans include mixed-use planning to increase the
throughout time.
amount of “products,” that is, experiences
King Abdullah Economic City example.
produced in the city.
Chen Xiaohui proceeded to outline the aspects of Suzhou Industry Park, located 20 minutes from Shanghai by train. The park acts as one of the most competitive in China with an annual GDP growth rate of 30%. The park aims to increase China’s international competitiveness by stimulating the economy with a shift from manufacturing to service industry and has already attracted 86 international firms. Lastly, Scot Wrighton presented Lavasa, a 100 square kilometer city located in the PuneMumbai corridor. The city is a completely corporate endeavor in that it receives no financial support from the Indian government. Wrighton highlighted the corporate responsibility of the 43