The
population in urban areas of developing countries is predicted to further
increase from the existing 3.5 billion by the end of 2011 to over 5.5 billion
in 30 years' time, said Brunei's Minister of Development.
"Statistics show that the world
population is growing at an annual rate of 1.3 per cent or 77 million people
and more than 90 per cent of that population growth is taking place in the
cities of developing countries," added Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato
Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman at a major conference held at The Empire Hotel and
Country Club Wednesday.
Many towns and cities worldwide have
experienced massive population growth and rapid urbanisation over the past two
decades, the minister stated in his keynote speech at the two-day 44th Eastern
Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlement (Earoph) Regional
Planning Conference.
He said the United Nations (UN) estimate on
world population stood at a staggering seven billion by the end of this year,
of which half or 3.5 billion would be residing in urban areas in developing
countries.
"Unless the right policies and directions
are made, all of the world's population growth will be concentrated within
urban areas in the next three decades. This will certainly place immense
pressure on people like us to ensure the quality of urban life is at a
level," the minister pointed out.
"Whether you live in developing countries
or developed countries, the current challenges are getting tougher and diverse
which demand more rigorous effort from the urban administrations, politicians
and experts. The impact of this lifestyle of the urban population would be
unimaginable," he said.
The minister related that in Brunei, there had
been an apparent rapid rate of urban growth where the estimated total of
Brunei's urban footprint had more than doubled in 2005 to 330 square kilometres
from 155 square kilometres in 1986.
The national rate of urbanisation had
increased from 59.4 per cent in 1981 to 71.7 per cent in 2001, Pehin Dato Hj
Suyoi added.
"Most of this urban growth has occurred
in Brunei-Muara District, occurring largely as a result of the availability of
developable land with fewer physical constraints and direct accessibility to
the main infrastructure network," he explained.
He went on to say that it was also due to
Brunei-Muara's traditional dominance as the national centre for population and
employment, given its established role as the economic, commercial and
administrative hub and international gateway to the country.
Today approximately 66 per cent of the
population of Brunei resides within Brunei-Muara District while the other three
districts are under populated, the minister said.
"Being a small country, managing urban
growth is even more challenging in the light of the small land size, unbalanced
development and the need to accommodate the different competing uses as well as
fulfilling the conservation initiatives of the country's natural
resources."
Held to mark this year's World Town Planning
Day, the conference which ends today, will also include a "technical
tour" programme to the nation's housing areas and the Kg Ayer pilot
project for 65 houses.
Attending the opening ceremony was His Royal
Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik. Also present at the event were local and
international participants of the course, senior officials and staff from the
ministry.
Fitri Shahminan
The Brunei Times
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