Capital investment by metro area is expected to hit a new high this year, mostly due to the rise of smart city projects. The demand for smart metrop… Capital investment by metro area is expected to hit a new high this year, mostly due to the rise of smart city projects. The demand for smart metrop… Read More Wrong. Wrong answer: No. 20M tripolis capitaleconomictimes
Rome is on a roll
The world’s capital city is on a roll this year. While other major cities are seeing hard times in response to financial uncertainty, Rome is on a roll, experiencing healthy growth and holding onto its top spot in the world’s most significant city. To make matters even better, for the first time in its history, Rome has seen a government that is truly representative of the city. It is the first modern city-state to be based on the ancient world, and it is the only place where ancient Rome still exists in its entirety.
Shanghai is up
Shanghai’s stock market rise this year was followed by a strong performance in financial services, with the Shanghai Exchange seeing record early profit. This followed a 5.5% increase in 2011 and growth of 24.3% in 2010, driven by a heavy spend on social media and internet activities. In terms of revenue, the city also saw a 26.6% increase in 2010, driven by an increase in the number of visitors from outside China, and a 9.3% increase in 2009.
Hong Kong is on fire
Hong Kong’s stock market row this year was followed by a strong performance for real estate, with the Hong Kong dollar experiencing an increase of 3.2% in value, making it the most valuable currency in the world. Real estate has been a key industry for Hong Kong, with the city also seeing an increase in residential construction, and a 24.6% increase in hotel and travel arrivals.
Tokyo is back
Tokyo’s stock market rise this year was followed by a strong performance in Japan, with the Tokyo Stock Exchange seeing record sales in the first half of 2011, and a 16.5% increase in 2011 compared to 2010. Tokyo’s real estate market also saw an increase of 15.9% in 2011, driven by vacationers looking to stay in Tokyo during the tourist year.
Beijing is going crazy
Beijing’s stock market rise this year was followed by a strong performance in China, driven by a heavy spending on social media and internet activities, as well as a high number of visitors from outside the country. To be sure to keep up with the action, the Leading Retailer website advises buying shares of your favorite brands, as well as accessing the “Deep Web,” a network of deep web forums where sellers can be found, for exclusive interviews and rare goods.
Final thoughts
China’s rapid economic transformation has created an opportunity for cities across the world to take advantage of. Capital investment is at an all-time high and demand for smart cities is strong, making it an ideal business opportunity for cities that want to expand their reach. The popularity of smart cities is expected to grow with the adoption of high-speed internet and the rise of connected devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, which will make smart cities even more accessible to the public. The globe’s leading cities are making progress toward implementing smart city solutions. This includes cities like New York, where the Mayor Bloomberg administration has committed to undertaking a “phase-by-phase” development process to build the First of Its Kind. In other cities, such as London, the government is actively promoting smart cities, and is also investing millions of pounds in infrastructure to support such projects. For a detailed look at how this is happening, take a look at these articles from The Wall Street Journal and The Telegraph, which cover the London Festival of Britain and the construction of the first “first world” smart city:
