Pekanbaru to Host 9th IMT-GT Green Cities Mayor Council Forum

The city of Pekanbaru will host the 9th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Green Cities Mayor Council (GCMC) meeting, scheduled to take place from 4 to 7 August 2026. The international forum will convene regional heads from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to discuss green city development and sustainable urban planning. A total of 32 city, regency, and municipal councils from Indonesia and Malaysia have been invited, while Thai delegates will be appointed through Thailand’s National Secretariat. Regional leaders from Medan, Batam, Padang, Palembang, Bandar Lampung, Ipoh, Penang, Alor Setar, Langkawi, Seremban, and Kuantan are expected to attend. The forum will also involve international organisations such as UNESCAP, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, which are global partners in sustainable city development. Pekanbaru Mayor Agung Nugroho will chair the meeting. He stated that the appointment is a significant opportunity to raise Indonesia’s profile internationally. ‘This trust is an honour for Pekanbaru, Riau Province, and Indonesia. We want to show that Indonesian regions can host international forums with excellent service, good governance, and a commitment to sustainable urban development,’ Agung said. He added that the forum would positively impact the local economy. ‘The presence of regional heads, international organisations, and delegates from various countries will create a multiplier effect for the economy. The hospitality, transportation, culinary, MSME, and tourism sectors will all benefit. More importantly, this is a golden opportunity to introduce Pekanbaru’s potential as a viable investment destination and international cooperation partner,’ he explained. The city administration plans to showcase flagship programmes, including green city development, public services, environmental management, the green economy, and investment potential across various sectors. During their stay, delegates will attend an international seminar on green city development, visit a Green School, a waste bank, and the Pekanbaru Green City project, and enjoy Malay cultural heritage at a gala dinner held at Rumah Singgah Tuan Kadi. The 9th GCMC IMT-GT forum is seen as a crucial moment for Pekanbaru to strengthen its position as a strategic city in Southeast Asia and to enhance Indonesia’s reputation as a quality host for international forums. ‘We want delegates to leave with the impression that Pekanbaru is a progressive, welcoming city open to investment and ready to partner with cities around the world. We hope this forum will produce concrete cooperation in investment, trade, environment, education, technology, and human resource development that brings real benefits to the community,’ Agung said.