Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the 7 Wonders of Future Cities campaign, participated in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 Summit 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on 3 November 2026, highlighting how visionary urban development, public participation and global recognition can combine to create powerful new engines of economic growth.
Speaking on a panel focused on urban growth, de la Fuente joined business, investor and urban development leaders at the inaugural summit to explore how large-scale, integrated developments can move beyond traditional real estate to become drivers of investment, employment, innovation and lasting socio-economic value. His participation came just three days after the official worldwide launch of public voting for the 7 Wonders of Future Cities on 31 October, World Cities Day.
Addressing the question of what makes a genuinely future-ready city, Jean-Paul de la Fuente highlighted the three central criteria of the global campaign: Environmental & Nature, Smart City and Human-Centric development. “Future cities must be much more than impressive buildings or ambitious infrastructure; they must be places where technology improves everyday life, where urban growth respects and regenerates the natural environment, and where people and communities are at the centre of every decision” he said, adding “These three principles are fundamental to creating cities that are not only smart and sustainable, but also liveable, resilient and successful over generations.”
Drawing on the experience of previous New7Wonders campaigns, which have collectively generated more than 600 million votes worldwide, de la Fuente introduced the Wonder Effect – the independently researched and validated impact of global public participation and recognition on branding, media visibility, tourism, investment attractiveness and wider socio-economic development – which he said “demonstrates that when people become emotionally engaged with a place, its value and potential can increase dramatically.”
The panel also featured participation from the leadership of Vinhomes, the number one Vietnamese real estate developer behind Green Paradise in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, which is an Official Participant in the 7 Wonders of Future Cities global campaign.
With worldwide public voting now open at www.7wondersfc.com, participating cities and developments have the opportunity to build global awareness, mobilise their stakeholders and strengthen their positioning as leading examples of future urban development. The campaign will culminate in the official declaration of the 7 Wonders of Future Cities on 31 October 2027, World Cities Day.
(Photos: Fortune / Lucas Schifres)
