Thank you
for coming today.
News&Release
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2025.11.05
[City of Yokohama Press Release]
Yokohama Takes the Lead in
Launching an “Asia
Circular City
Declaration Initiative”
Highlight
Policy Dialogue
GREEN STAGE ( G2 )
City leaders and representatives from international organizations will gather to promote circular cities across Asia, sharing best practices and proposing concrete actions.
・Announcement of new initiatives
by city leaders and international organizations to advance circular cities
in Asia.
・Presentations by key partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
World Bank, CITYNET, and JICA, highlighting successful cases and insights.
・Showcase from Yokohama on decarbonization, advanced technologies,
and the vision of a circular society to be featured at GREEN×EXPO 2027.
Urban Solution Showcase
BLUE STAGE ( G3,G4 )
Corporate and city representatives will present challenges and solutions related to the circular economy and decarbonization, fostering collaboration for urban problem-solving through exhibitions and networking.
・ Mutual pitches by representatives from cities and companies on urban challenges,
related policies, and technologies or solutions.
・Showcase of technologies and solutions addressing urban challenges, featuring exhibition booths by
approximately 45 organizations and companies, introducing initiatives on decarbonization, circular economy,
and urban issue solutions.
・ Networking session attended by about 45 overseas cities, organizations, and local companies.
（Open to all participants）
Speakers
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Takeharu Yamanaka
Mayor
Yokohama City -
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
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Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Mayor
Kuala Lumpur City -
Hugh Lim
Executive Director
Centre for Liveable Cities, Ministry of National Development, Singapore -
Kentaro Doi
Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs
Ministry of the Environment, Japan -
Joy Blessilda Sinay
ADBI Capacity Building Specialist
-
Wataru Yokota
General Manager
Carbon Neutral Business Planning Dept.,
Carbon Neutral Strategy Div., Isuzu Motors Ltd. -
Takehiko Nagumo
JapanRepresentative Director
Smart City Institute -
Gunbold Baatar
CEO "Hunnu City Development Corporation" SOE
-
Ivonne Bojoh
CEO
CircleEconomy -
Jean-Eric Paquet
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan -
Motohiko Murai
Professor
Yokohama National University -
Bambang Brodjonegoro
Dean and CEO
Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) -
Yuko Uchida
Economic Journalist & CEO INNOVEDIA
-
Shinji Fujieda
CEO
GUUN CO.,LTD. -
Kazuhiko Takemoto
Chair
ICLEI JAPAN -
Bing Chomprasob
Chief Representative Officer Japan
World Economic Forum -
Diana Torres
Regional Governance Advisor
UNDP -
Togo Uchida
Executive Director
ICLEI JAPAN -
Jae-bok Chang
Chief Executive Officer
CityNet Secretariat -
Zita Pels
Deputy Mayor
The city of Amsterdam -
Oddy Angelo
Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements
UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) -
Prettie Acop-Jalang
Assistant General Manager
SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc.
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Takeharu Yamanaka
Mayor Yokohama City
-
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities (Part 2)
Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific took office on 1 November 2018. Ms. Alisjahbana was Professor of Economics at Universitas Padjadjaran and was Minister of National Development Planning and the Head of the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Indonesia from 2009 to 2014. In 2016, Ms. Alisjahbana was a member of the High-Level Independent Team of Advisors to support the ECOSOC Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the United Nations for the 2030 Agenda. Ms. Alisjahbana obtained her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Washington, USA. -
Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Mayor Kuala Lumpur City
Opening Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 1)Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif is the first woman Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Advisor on Sustainable Urbanisation to Malaysia, and Special Envoy of ASEAN Cities and Local Governments. She served as UN-Habitat Executive Director (2018–2024) and earlier led Seberang Perai and Penang Island City Council. A global urban leader, she champions climate action, zero waste, gender equality, and inclusive cities and is driving Kuala Lumpur’s path to carbon neutrality by 2040." -
Hugh Lim
Executive Director Centre for Liveable Cities, Ministry of National Development, Singapore
Opening Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 1)Hugh Lim is Executive Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore. With a background in engineering and technology management, he has held senior roles in Singapore’s public sector, including CEO of the Building and Construction Authority. Hugh played a key role in shaping the Singapore Green Building Masterplan and continues to champion sustainable urban development. -
Kentaro Doi
Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Decarbonizing the infrastructure that supports urban life
Appointed as Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of the Environment in July 2025. He is responsible for international operations related to global environmental conservation and serves as Japan’s representative in international dialogues and negotiations. He has previously held key positions at the Ministry of the Environment, including Director-General of the Global Environment Bureau, Director-General of the Environmental Management Bureau, and Director-General of the Environmental Regeneration and Material Cycles Bureau. He earned a master’s degree in engineering from Hokkaido University in 1990. -
Joy Blessilda Sinay
ADBI Capacity Building Specialist
Asian Development
Bank & ADB Institute Session
Circular Cities for a Sustainable FutureMs Sinay manages various capacity building activities on financial systems, labor migration, and digitalization. Prior to joining ADBI, she was Senior Officer at the ASEAN Secretariat working on monitoring of regional finance and insurance integration and sustainable development issues, particularly circular economy and carbon neutrality. -
Wataru Yokota
General Manager Carbon Neutral Business Planning Dept., Carbon Neutral Strategy Div., Isuzu Motors Ltd.
Decarbonizing the infrastructure that supports urban life
Built a career at three major Japanese manufacturers, gaining experience in product planning, business planning, marketing, project management, and new business development. Notably, contributed to creating new businesses in the imaging sector, scaling projects from concept (0) to initial launch (1), growth (10), and full-scale expansion (100). At Isuzu Motors, his fourth company, currently advancing initiatives toward realizing a carbon-neutral society. -
Takehiko Nagumo
JapanRepresentative Director Smart City Institute
Balancing Environmental Sustainability,
Circular Economy, and Citizen Well-beingRepresentative Director at Smart City Institute Japan. Concurrently, Professor at
Yokohama City University, Keio University Graduate School of Media and Policy
Governance and Graduate School of System Design Management, and Kyoto
University Graduate School of Management, Takehiko advises local governments,
businesses, and academia to implement urban development policies based on
Liveable Well-Being City Indicator. -
Gunbold Baatar
CEO "Hunnu City Development Corporation" SOE
Asian Development
Bank & ADB Institute Session
Circular Cities for a Sustainable FutureMr. Gunbold Baatar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Nanjing University (1996–2000) and a Master’s in Project Management from Swinburne University, Australia (2012–2013). With over 20 years of leadership in construction, urban planning, and public administration, he has served in senior roles at the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development and, currently CEO of "Hunnu City Development Corporation" SOE. -
Ivonne Bojoh
CEO CircleEconomy
Yokohama City Platform for Resource Circulation Session
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 2)Ivonne Bojoh is a circular economy expert with 25+ years in tech and innovation. At Circle Economy, she empowers governments and businesses to implement data-driven strategies for a thriving planet. Her mission: transform 10,000 companies, 1,000 cities, and 100 nations. -
Jean-Eric Paquet
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan
Opening Session: Promoting Circular Cities (Part 1)
Jean-Eric Paquet has served as EU Ambassador to Japan since 2022. With decades of experience in EU policy, he led major initiatives in research, innovation, transport, and enlargement. As Director-General for Research and Innovation, he launched the European Innovation Council and EU Missions. He champions co-creation and citizen engagement in shaping public policy. -
Motohiko Murai
Professor Yokohama National University
Realizing a Decarbonized Society from the Ocean Perspective
-Trends in the Expansion of Floating Offshore WindPower Deployment-Completed a Master's course at The University of Tokyo in 1995. A research associate
at the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo from 1997-1999, an
associate professor at Yokohama National University since 1999, currently, a professor.
His specialty is ocean engineering particularly dynamic motion of floating systems in
waves, with a PhD in engineering. -
Bambang Brodjonegoro
Dean and CEO Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)
Circular Cities for a Sustainable Future
Bambang Brodjonegoro, an Indonesian national, is the Dean and CEO of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). Before joining ADBI in April 2025 he was Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for Economic Affairs and National Development. He served the Government of Indonesia in several senior leadership roles from 2011. He was Indonesia’s Minister of Finance (2014–2016), Minister of National Development Planning (2016–2019), and Minister of Research and Technology (2019-2021). -
Yuko Uchida
Economic Journalist & CEO INNOVEDIA
Decarbonizing the infrastructure that supports urban life
Yuko Uchida has made numerous media appearances as an economic commentator and serves as the main anchor for tvk's program Business Up to Date.
In 2020, she founded INNOVEDIA, a web media platform specializing in innovation, based in Bashamichi, Yokohama, where she actively disseminates information.
She also serves as an advisory committee member for the City of Yokohama and as an outside director for publicly listed companies. -
Shinji Fujieda
CEO GUUN CO.,LTD.
Yokohama City Platform for Resource Circulation Session
After a professional career as a baseball player, he joined the predecessor of the current company.
He later established the business by spinning off the recycling division from a demolition company.
He now serves as Chairman of the Japan Federation of Wood Recycle Associations, Chairman of the Kanagawa Industrial Resources Recycling Association, and Director of the Japan Industrial Waste Management Federation. -
Kazuhiko Takemoto
Chair ICLEI JAPAN
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 2)Dr. Takemoto developed policies on sustainable development and the global environment as Director-General of the Environmental Management Bureau and Vice-Minister for Global Environment Affairs of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ).
He served for CBD/COP10 as its Alternate President (2010), OECD/EPOC as Vice Chair (2004–07), and UNFCCC/COP3 as Special Assistant to its President (1997).
In addition to his current role as the Chair of ICLEI Japan, Dr.Takemoto has been fully committed to international cooperation on environment and development as President of the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center (OECC) and Chair of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Council. -
Bing Chomprasob
Chief Representative Officer Japan World Economic Forum
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 2)Leads the World Economic Forum’s engagement in Japan, advancing strategic priorities through collaboration with government, business, academia, and civil society. Experienced in sustainability, education, and public-private partnerships across Asia Pacific and global initiatives. Holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and a BA from the University of California, Irvine. -
Diana Torres
Regional Governance Advisor UNDP
Diana Torres is the UNDP Regional Governance Advisor for Asia-Pacific, where she leads efforts to strengthen urban governance systems and support cities in advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development.
With over two decades of global experience in public sector reform and democratic governance across Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf, she brings deep expertise in institutional innovation, multilevel governance, and local accountability.
Since joining UNDP in 2008, Diana has spearheaded regional and national initiatives to promote open government, reinforce anti-corruption frameworks, and enhance governance capabilities. More recently, her work has focused on helping Asia-Pacific cities navigate complex urban challenges by fostering peer learning, enabling collaboration, and equipping local governments with the tools, data, and partnerships needed to accelerate urban transformation. -
Togo Uchida
Executive Director ICLEI JAPAN
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 2)Born in the UK and grew up in Melbourne and Tokyo, Togo joined the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in 2006.
He then held various positions at organizations including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
In his current role, Togo is responsible for running an office representing 27 cities and regions that are driving sustainability in Japan, participating in international negotiations such as the UN COPs, INC on Plastic Pollution, G7, and the Ramsar Convention, and acting as an advisor to local governments on sustainability. -
Jae-bok Chang
Chief Executive Officer CityNet Secretariat
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities
(Part 2)Mr. Jae-bok Chang has held key positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, making significant contributions to international relations throughout his distinguished career.
Most recently, he served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India (2021–2024), fostering stronger Korea–India relations. -
Zita Pels
Deputy Mayor The city of Amsterdam
Opening Session: Promoting Circular Cities (Part 1)
Zita Pels is Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam responsible for Sustainability, Circular Economy, and Animal Welfare. She leads the city’s transition toward a fully circular economy by 2050, focusing on reducing waste, reusing materials, and promoting sustainable procurement. Under her leadership, Amsterdam is pioneering innovative policies and partnerships that combine climate ambition with social inclusion and urban resilience. -
Oddy Angelo
Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP)
Closing Session: Promoting Circular Cities (Part 2)
Dr. Oddy Angelo, Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Disaster Management, has over 15 years of experience supporting vulnerable communities through post-disaster and crisis recovery. She has worked in Bolivia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. Based in Fukuoka, she supports UN-Habitat programs in Cambodia, Viet Nam, Nepal, Mongolia, and China, and contributes to climate adaptation initiatives in Pakistan and Malaysia, promoting resilient, sustainable urban development across the Asia-Pacific region. -
Prettie Acop-Jalang
Assistant General Manager SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc.
Co-Creation for a Circular Society in Asia
Prettie Acop-Jalang of SM Guun Environmental Company, Inc. holding the position of Admin/PCO/Sales and Marketing Officer for more than 7 years. As a PCO of the company, she facilitated IEC to LGU who had partnership with us and leveraging our expertise in Solid Waste Management to enhance community engagement and promote sustainable practices. She have gained over 9 years working in the manufacturing company in MEPZ-I. Furthermore, She graduated from Cebu Technological University with a degree in Industrial Technology.
SPONSORSHIP
MEDIA PARTNER
EVENT OUTLINE
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Title
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Asia Smart City Conference 2025
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Theme
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Towards a Circular Society
~Promoting the Circular Economy, Carbon Neutrality, and
GREEN×EXPO 2027~ -
Dates
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November 25th (Tue)：Opening Session (Keynote Speech)
Plenary Session (ADB, World Bank, CITYNET) -
November 26th (Wed)：Urban Session (City-to-City Collaboration, Carbon Neutral/
Circular Policy, Student Proposals)
Business Session
(City x Business Pitch, etc.)
Booth Exhibition (Business Networking)
Closing Session -
November 27th (Thu)：Technical Tour for Overseas Invited Cities
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Venue
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PACIFICO Yokohama North and other locations
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Organizer
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City of Yokohama
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Admission
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Free
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Language
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English (some sessions in Japanese, simultaneous interpretation available)
ACCESS
Venue
Yokohama North and other locations
（https://www.pacifico.co.jp/）
1-1-2 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama,
Kanagawa 220-0012
6 min walk from Exit 2 of Minato Mirai Station
20 min walk from Sakuragicho Station
FLOOR MAP
REGISTRATION
FOR PARTICIPATION
IS HERE
ORGANIZER
City of Yokohama
SUPPORTERS
Cabinet Office
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism
Ministry of the Environment
CITYNET