#3. A Comparison of the Transport Network in the Pearl River Delta and Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore

A lack of information online comparing the transport network in both the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle (IMS-GT) is disappointing, considering these two regions has attracted enormous intellectual curiosities as well as commanding superior economic and technological prowess in their respective geographical regions - East Asia and Southeast Asia.

A careful analysis of the main transport network within the PRD yields surprising results. Firstly, all cities are well-connected by roads, railways, airports and maritime ports. Even if some of the transport system components are not currently up to global standards, the network improvement is still staggering, as indicated by the world's longest bridge - Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge which is set to open this year and its ever-expanding high speed railway and mass rapid transit. There are three main urban conurbations within the PRD - Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Foshan and Macau-Zhuhai. Every city within the PRD has a well defined economic role within the larger economic system of China, if not, the global logistic conveyor belt. One notable feature to point out with regards to governance is its three separate governance systems within the delta - mainland PRD and the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, a colonial legacy which is expected to continue to at least 2047.

On the other hand, turning our attentions to IMS-GT, which is built upon the economic development model of PRD, it is easy to conclude that the transportation and logistic connections between Indonesia and its northern neighbours are limited only to sea and air routes. Besides, the population density in this region is much smaller, albeit very culturally diverse. At the moment, only Singapore has a well integrated and comprehensive transport network. Iskandar Malaysia is seeking to integrate its future rail and bus network with the Singaporean system. It is also important to indicate that the development in this region is somewhat, slow, when compared to the PRD. However, strategically located along the world's busiest sea route - the Straits of Malacca, it is widely anticipated the IMS-GT will soon be one of the most developed region globally before 2050, although the transport connections between these cities must first be strengthened and the urban planners in these three countries must look beyond their national borders when planning socio-economic development in this region.

A rather harrowing thought to ponder at the moment is how sea-level rise will affect these cities in the not too distant future. How development progress play out in these regions will be an interesting chapter in the discourse of upcoming global politico-socio-economic development.

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