Welcome by Bernardus Djonoputro, Chairman LOC
President – Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners


THE CONGRESS WHERE MOMENTUM IS EVERYTHING

The planet world is urbanising at an unprecedented rate, and the ever higher rate of Asia’s urbanisation is rapidly changing the region. Megacities are transforming into futuristic forms – economically, socially, spatially and geo-politically.

The challenges for societies and cities to cope with the changes as well as getting prepared for the impact of climate change, commercialisation and digitalisation are immense. Democratisation, regional geopolitics and the presence of new major economies, are shaping how cities are governed, planned and managed.

The planning profession requires a constant readjustment to be able to cope with these changes. Contemporary urban issues and scale are now shaping a new paradigm of planning for the future. The constant pressure to avoid expulsions of people and to side for the group at the bottom of the pyramid is taking centre stage, as tens of millions of citizens are becoming a new generation of urban residents.

Jakarta and its greater surrounding area – the second largest agglomeration in the world with over 30 million inhabitants – hosts many alarming phenomena such as inundation, sea water rise, waste generation, as well as massive land grabbing and inequality. Sitting in the middle of the ring of fire, this country of 17,000 islands around the equator, is going through a major transformation.

At the same time, the 1 Trillion-dollar economy Indonesia is gearing up to become the future powerhouse and growth centre of the region. With the growing of numbers of new middle class and overall urban population in the next two decades, the momentum is right for planners to shape the future.

Together with our supporting partners, The Ministry of Planning and Land, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, the City of Jakarta and Bogor and the Governor of West Java, I am proud to extend a warm invitation to planners, thought leaders and stakeholders to come to Jakarta and Bogor, and exchange ideas on how we can take up the above challenges. We are planning to have series of interactive sessions, field trips and forums to get to the bottom of the issues, as well as series of side events to enjoy this beautiful paradise in the heart of the equator.

Welcome to beautiful Indonesia!

 

Welcome by Martin Dubbeling, ISOCARP President

Cities and metropolises play a crucial role in implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These Sustainable Development Goals address both the hardware and the software of cities. As there is no other discipline that has the overview and capacity to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, we as city and regional planners have a profound responsibility in planning and changing cities and metropolises to become more liveable, inclusive and sustainable.

We are a worldwide members-led network association of urban and regional planners. We arrange a wide array of activities for and with our members such as publications, workshops, awards, and training programmes. This learning network is the greatest asset of ISOCARP. Our members meet, connect, get to know each other, learn from each other and are able to support each other with ideas and through the exchange of knowledge and experience. Every year our members of the extensive ISOCARP network meet at our annual congress.

This year´s theme “Beyond the Metropolis” evokes the complex and daring challenges for our present and future cities. I am excited that Jakarta, the second largest agglomeration on earth, has taken the courageous responsibility to put the future of its metropolis on the agenda and will host the 55th ISOCARP Congress. At our annual World Planning Congresses, ISOCARP members, partners and congress delegates, present their projects, cases, research of the past year and participate in technical tours, special sessions and workshops and paper presentations.

ISOCARP congresses are first and foremost a meeting place of our members, all planning professionals working in academia, for cities and regions as well as for local and international consultancies and institutions. The 55th ISOCARP Congress in Jakarta aims to become an event where planners, developers, politicians and NGOs meet and discuss the future of urban resilience of agglomerations for Jakarta and beyond.

With much appreciation for your interest and commitment to “Knowledge for Better Cities.”

 

Welcome by Sławomir (Sławek) Ledwoń, ISOCARP Board Member, Congresses and Events Director

Last year the ISOCARP World Planning Congress was hosted in Bodø, Norway, where a record number of over 500 planners gathered to discuss the congress theme “Cool Planning: Changing Climate and Our Urban Future.” It was a very successful event, with excellent contributions from authors and presenters, including keynote speakers – Jeremy Rifkin, Peter Newman and Herbert Girardet, and great hospitality of the hosts and proud citizens of Bodø.

In 2019 the 55th ISOCARP World Planning Congress will travel from the far north arctic circle south – to the meridian – to Jakarta and Bogor, Indonesia. ISOCARP has been invited by the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners and their supporting partners to explore the world’s second biggest agglomeration, with its excellence, character, but also challenges and opportunities for the future.

This year’s theme “Beyond the Metropolis” will truly go beyond: both the Jakarta metropolis by having its worldwide relevance and attendance of international delegates, but also beyond the concept of megacities by discussing their future and alternatives of such models. The topic to discuss has never been so current and diverse, and for this reason we will have 7 parallel thematic tracks with many sessions of presentations, panels and discussions.

We welcome contributions not only from researchers and urban thinkers, but also from practitioners and those responsible for the development on the ground. Over the last years the World Planning Congress has become the forum to exchange knowledge between all stakeholders engaged in city, urban and regional planning and design. Invited speakers will give plenary keynotes on the main theme. ISOCARP will also have its programme, where members will have the opportunity to discuss the society’s current matters, but also every delegate will learn about our programmes and initiatives.

I would like to cordially invite you to take part in 55th ISOCARP World Planning Congress expecting that the delegates will learn a lot from this congress, make new networking acquaintances for fruitful future collaboration, explore Indonesia and above all have a memorable time in Indonesia!

Join us! Submit your proposal for contribution and register soon! Follow the 2019.isocarp.org website for updates.