Why KL City Planning Must Evolve Beyond Economic Metrics

Between climate change and aging populations, what does it take for a city to thrive and survive in our changing world? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we dive into Kuala Lumpur’s position on the global stage, guided by insights from Arup’s latest Redefining City Competitiveness report.

This report, released by the global design and consultancy firm Arup, introduces a new framework for evaluating cities based on resilience, governance, liveability, and loveability—expanding beyond traditional economic metrics.

Kuala Lumpur, identified as an “aspiring” global city, shines in areas like green infrastructure and urban management but faces challenges in inclusivity and mobility. Joining us to discuss the factors driving Kuala Lumpur’s growth and its global competitiveness is Murali Ram, Malaysia Lead for Cities & Advisory at Arup. Together, we explore what KL can learn from other cities as it continues its climb.