Cities are expanding rapidly, especially across Asia, Africa, and Latin America¡ªbringing both opportunities and challenges. Housing shortages, inadequate infrastructure, climate risks, and rising inequality are straining urban systems. How can cities remain livable and inclusive while driving growth? These questions brought policymakers, urban leaders, and experts together in Tokyo on August 22 for a roundtable on ¡°Shaping Livable and Productive Cities through Urban Planning and Quality Infrastructure,¡± co-hosted by World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) and UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (UN Habitat-ROAP).
Minoru Hasegawa, Director for Policy Coordination, MD Conferencing Multilateral Development Banks Division, Ministry of Finance, Japan, together with Kazuko Ishigaki, Regional Director of UN-Habitat ROAP, opened the session and emphasized the important role of partnerships across governments, academia, civil society, and business in creating livable cities. His Excellency Oct¨¢vio Henrique Dias Garcia C?rtes, Ambassador of Brazil to Japan, made a welcome speech sharing Brazil¡¯s efforts to advance social inclusion, build resilient green cities, and ensure universal access to infrastructure, while underscoring the value of collaboration with multilateral agencies.
Urban planning: more than technocracy
In her keynote address, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach described urban planning as the backbone of sustainable development. ¡°Housing is the roof of the SDGs, but urban planning is the backbone,¡± she said. She stressed that planning must integrate informal settlements, land¡¯s ecological function, and community participation¡ªreminding that cities generate 70 percent of global emissions.
City lessons from Japan and Egypt
Following the keynote address, leaders from Japanese and global municipalities and private companies, along with experts, took the stage for a panel discussion facilitated by Jon Kher Kaw, Senior Urban Development Specialist, World Bank.
Tokyo, Japan: Ryosuke Toura, President of Tokyu Research Institute, Inc., explained how transit-oriented development in Shibuya has maximized land use, improved connectivity, and generated resources to reinvest in city services.
Sapporo, Japan: Keitaro Takigami, Director of the Urban Development Promotion Office, Sapporo City, introduced projects in the city like underground pedestrian spaces and Akapla Plaza, which turned public areas into safe and vibrant gathering places.
Qena, Egypt: Governor Khaled Mahmoud Abdelhalim presented plans to make Qena a regional hub by 2040, combining new and existing cities while promoting logistics, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. He stressed the importance of balanced rural¨Curban development to avoid uncontrolled migration.
A common framework
World Bank Lead Urban Economist Mark Roberts highlighted three pillars for building livable, productive cities: planning, connecting, and financing. For large cities, compact growth and inclusive transport are critical; for smaller ones, basic service delivery and links to larger centers matter most. Sustainable financing mechanisms are vital across contexts.
Looking ahead
By linking experiences from Tokyo, Sapporo, and Qena, the event underscored that cities across the world share both challenges and solutions. With partnerships across governments, private sector, and communities, rapid urbanization can be transformed into an engine for sustainable growth.