What it takes for new cities in Asia to become centers of growth

November 2, 2026

Writing in fDi Intelligence, Tractus managing director John Evans looks at the wave of new cities in Asia. Indonesia is building Nusantara, the Philippines is expanding New Clark City, Vietnam has broken ground at Can Gio, China is filling out Xiong’an and India has revived Amaravati. With the UN expecting the Asia-Pacific region’s urban population to grow by 1.2 billion by 2050, the pressure behind these projects is real.

John sets the projects that are gaining traction against those that have stalled or changed course, including Malaysia’s Forest City and Myanmar’s New Yangon City. He looks at the role of anchor employers, politics and transport, and at Jakarta’s rapid transit system as a different answer to the same pressures.

The piece will interest investors weighing a location in or near one of these developments, and the economic development agencies working to attract them.

Read the full article in fDi Intelligence


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