Mexico City wins the Lee Kuan Yew World City Award

SINGAPORE – Mexico City has been named winner of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2024.

The biennial award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the creation of vibrant, liveable and sustainable urban communities, is organized by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Center for Livable Cities (CLC).

In a May 7 statement, URA and CLC said Mexico City stood out for its ability to address many complex urban challenges and achieve transformational progress in a relatively short time of five years.

The jury’s citation for the award said that the Mexican capital’s successful implementation of initiatives in a short period reflects not only the city’s ability to implement new policies, but also the commitment to see their completion quickly.

For example, the city implemented a series of inclusive social policies and programs, such as free education for children and youth, and encouraged dignified aging for older people as a way to build stronger and more resilient communities.

In five years, 294 community centers were established across the city to offer social programs to foster community ties, organize continuing education courses, support youth rehabilitation efforts and help vulnerable groups gain useful working-life skills. .

To make the commuting experience more seamless, the city has integrated eight transit payment systems from multiple transportation providers through a single transportation card.

“The world’s longest cable car line in Iztapalapa has a particular impact, significantly reducing travel time at a low cost to the low-income neighborhood it serves,” the citation says.

Mexico City has also developed a centralized secure digital identity system, “Llave,” to allow residents to access most city services, from vehicle registration to retrieving birth certificates.

The city also engages its residents in environmental strategies, for example, training them to use the city’s rain harvesting system as a free alternative source of water in water-scarce areas.

Dr. Cheong Koon Hean, who chairs the nominations committee, said: “Mexico City has demonstrated how its citizen-centered urban programs, supported by strong leadership and new digital initiatives to simplify and improve access to services public, can benefit its residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status.”

Mexico City Mayor Martí Batres Guadarrama said the award “further drives us to continue the transformation we began almost six years ago to build a more fair, inclusive and sustainable city.”

In addition to the award certificate, Mexico City will receive a cash prize of S$300,000 and a gold medallion valued at S$50,000, sponsored by Keppel Limited.

The awards ceremony and banquet will take place at the upcoming World Cities Summit on June 2-4.

In addition to Mexico City, four other cities received special mentions for their urban management practices: Cape Town in South Africa, Melbourne in Australia, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Wellington in New Zealand.