Identifying problems and then aggressively fixing them - that's a key to improving Asia's cities. In its search for Asia's most improved cities, Asiaweek tapped its network of correspondents - and then went one step further. In the following pages, we highlight how the four cities that came out of that survey have addressed their problems. They are Dalian in China, Naga in the Philippines, Surat in India and Bandung in Indonesia. Some have been more successful than others, but, as with Taipei, their stories contain lessons for even the most affluent urban centers.
Sudden crises can overcome the inertia that holds communities back.
In the case of Surat, the trigger was, of all things, an outbreak of the plague in 1994. Anything would be an improvement on that, of course. But the key to change is to maintain the momentum. Surat has managed that - and in doing so has become a yardstick for South Asia's city managers. Purposeful leadership can make a difference.