The global smart cities market is projected to exceed USD 870 billion by 2030, underscoring the need for collaboration between public institutions, private enterprises, and technology innovators. The Smart Cities Summit North America 2025 (SCSNA) convened in San Francisco this week to address precisely this challenge; bringing together over 450 leaders from across industries and regions to shape the cities of the future.
As a Strategic Partner, IFZA is proud to support the summit’s mission and contribute to meaningful dialogue and innovation that drives sustainable urban transformation.
Opening Remarks: A Shared Vision for Smarter Cities
Day 1 of the summit commenced with a keynote welcome from Holger Schlechter, Chief Financial Officer at IFZA. His remarks emphasized the shared responsibility of today’s global leaders to develop inclusive, resilient, and forward-thinking urban environments. We are not here simply to observe the future, we are here to shape it, together.
His address reaffirmed IFZA’s commitment to enabling global business growth by fostering innovation, connecting international markets, and supporting scalable smart city initiatives.
Building Bridges and Creating Global Opportunities
Later in the day, Schlechter delivered a keynote presentation titled “Building Bridges and Creating Global Opportunities,” in which he detailed the strategic importance of connecting major innovation ecosystems, most notably Silicon Valley and Dubai.
Dubai, as he highlighted, serves as a gateway linking markets across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Through its streamlined business setup framework and supportive regulatory environment, IFZA plays an instrumental role in enabling international companies to establish and scale operations in these high-growth regions.
With IFZA being the Middle East Regional Lead for the Smart Cities Council, Schlechter emphasized the need for practical, cross-border partnerships that can accelerate sustainable urban development on a global scale.
Looking Forward
Day 1 of the Smart Cities Summit North America 2025 showcased the collective ambition of investors, and businesses to build intelligent, future-ready cities. IFZA’s involvement reflects a broader commitment to advancing international business ecosystems that support urban innovation and long-term sustainability.
As the summit continues, IFZA looks forward to further engaging with global partners, exchanging insights, and identifying scalable solutions that will help shape the cities of tomorrow.
Stay tuned as we bring you more insights and key takeaways from Day 2 of the Smart Cities Summit North America 2025.
