may beneﬁt Vietnam's economy in the long term. Vietnam is often seen as a lower-cost alternative to China, and FDl has grown on the back of this while escalation of the trade dispute between China and the U.S. Manufacturing is one of the key sources of economic growth in Vietnam, driven in part by robust demand from China. Ho Chi Minh City is generally viewed as the more business-friendly destination attracting more overseas investment along with a higher corporate presence, whereas Hanoi has lagged commercially but is a city that is swiftly evolving. Vietnam has a strong presence in the rankings with both Hanoi (3) and Ho Chi Minh City (8) in the City Momentum Index Top 10. The provision of smart, efficient and productive real estate and increased transparency are key factors in driving long-term, sustainable growth.' The Chinese city of Xi'an, ranked ninth in this year's Index, has installed an innovative 100-metre-tall air purifying tower to reduce smog and improve air quality. Kelly adds: 'These cities need to address the environmental and social impacts of rapid growth such as social inequality, congestion and environmental degradation.

Jeremy Kelly, Director of Global Research at JLL says: ' It's clear that the tech sector is a key driver of both real estate and economic momentum–driven by large technology firms as well as dynamic start-ups in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen.' The only non-Asian city on the list is Nairobi, in sixth place, which is heavily influenced by significant amounts of infrastructure-focused investment from China. The absence of European and American cities demonstrates a marked East-West growth divide, reflecting Asia's continued rapid urbanization and economic growth, driven by globalization, innovation and demographic factors. VIETNAM, – Asia Pacific is home to 19 of the top 20 cities, highlighting the continuing shift of fast urban growth from the West to the East, according to the sixth City Momentum Index published by JLL (NYSE:JLL).

Global city rankings 2019