Written by Fatima Najm
Manama, May 16 (BNA): The sixth edition of the Smart Cities Summit 2023, hosted by Bahrain, focused on the main enabling factors for the development of smart cities, which are infrastructure and technology.
The international summit, which was inaugurated today by Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, was attended by 250 participants from the public and private sectors from many countries of the world.
Twenty local and international exhibitors showcased technology solutions, renewable energy and smart homes at the exhibition, which was held as part of the summit.
Ten sessions are organized with 40 speakers over the two days of the summit, to shed light on smart city solutions, future technology, smart buildings and digital twinning, smart and sustainable agricultural technologies, presentation of government agencies’ initiatives in smart cities, and applications of artificial intelligence in smart cities.
Among the participants was the Chinese company (Hikvision), which helps people better communicate with the world around them through smart products. Amir Chen, the company’s general manager, said that Hikvision entered the Bahraini market 10 years ago, indicating the importance of this summit for the company to exchange experiences with other international entities.
“We have already gained a lot of opportunities and benefits from our previous participation. That is why we will continuously support and put our efforts into this exhibition. We believe that smart cities are a concept that everyone is interested in because it provides safer, more stable and more sustainable life.”
“We believe that a smart city is a basic requirement for all citizens. We at Hikvision will develop our company in all aspects of smart city construction.”
Naseej, a local real estate development company, believes that smart cities are the future, and that the foundation of a smart city lies in the integration of innovative technologies and sustainable practices into every aspect of urban life. Smart homes, as a key component of smart cities, are designed to improve the quality of life for residents by providing comfort, convenience, security and energy efficiency using advanced technologies.
Amin Al Arrayedh, CEO of Naseej, touched on the importance of building affordable housing projects using technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics in design and construction.
He noted that these technologies enable the company to create energy-efficient, safe and connected homes, while also promoting environmental sustainability.
“In the past years, we have witnessed rapid growth in urbanization in Bahrain, which has resulted in an increased demand for housing. As we work to meet this demand, we are also committed to providing homes that are not only affordable, but also technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable,” Al Arrayedh said. .
The event also presented Bahrain’s experience in using direct cooling systems to provide cooling for buildings, reduce the use of traditional air conditioning systems, and reduce demand for electricity and impact on the environment.