Locals have their say after Dundee was named one of the best places in the World to live and work for the generations ahead

Locals from across Dundee have had their say after the city was named one of the best places in the world to live and work for the generations ahead.

Dundee was listed as one of tech company Cognizant’s 21 Places of the Future. The City of Discovery was joined by 20 other locations including Nairobi, Shenzhen, Sao Paulo and even Outer Space.

The full list of “places of the future” are: Sacramento,

USA; Toronto, Canada; Atlanta, USA; Portland, USA; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Lisbon, Portugal; Dundee, UK; Lagos, Nigeria; Tallin, Estonia; Silicon Wadi, Israel; Nairobi, Kenya; Kochi, India; Haidan QU, China; Songdo, South Korea; Shenzhen, China; Da Nang, Vietnam; Wellington, New Zealand; Nova Hanseatica (shared economic zones); Virtual Space; Outer Space; Remotopia (working remotely, from home).

To find out just what people know about these faraway lands, and think of their home city, The Courier spoke to Dundonians from different generations.

Some, such as law student Rohid Birdi, were already familiar with places named on the list.

The 20-year-old said: “I was planning to move to Toronto for my masters.

“A lot of students in India go to Canada and settle there. Canada is one of the most beautiful countries.

“A lot of my classmates are planning to go there for studies, they want to settle there and do their jobs there.

“Kochi is in India, it’s a port city. I never visited there because I’m from the north part of India.”

Rohid is proud of Dundee’s place on the world stage, adding: “It’s is a good place and a developing city. The people are friendly and the university is very good.

“In the future, Dundee will be the best place to live in Scotland.”

Steve Mann, a 34-yearold nurse, has plans to move across the Atlantic when life returns to normal.

But he has watched closely as the gaming revolution took hold in Dundee.

Steve said: “My plan after lockdown is over is possibly moving to somewhere in Canada.

“The quality of life is a lot better, the standard of living is good and wages are a lot better as well.

“But we are quite forward thinking in Dundee, especially with our games technology.”

Lagos’ place on the caught the eye Ikechukwu Charles-Ibe, having visited before.

He said: “I’ve been to Lagos... I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of opportunities but there’s a lot of good jobs.

“Unemployment is really high over there. I think that list of 17,

with a lot of investments in infrastructure and the IT industry things are getting better in Lagos.”

Even older residents, such as pensioner Arthur Gall, are open to the idea of orbital occupations.

Having lived through the space race, the 68-year-old said: “I believed that once we got there we would make some sort of settlement on the moon. I think it’s a bit further ahead.”

Arthur is proud of

Dundee’s global reputation, adding: “We’re more wellknown in the world now and I think that’s because of overseas students.

“They have a good experience when they’re in Dundee.”

Meanwhile, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) CEO Greig Coull called the report a “huge compliment” to the city.

The facility is given its own shout-out in the report, highlighted for its dedication to job creation.

Coull said: “Dundee is an excellent location for companies to come to.

“When we are engaging with prospective tenants, we are not only ‘selling MSIP’ but we are ‘selling Dundee’ as well.

“The wider activity which Dundee has to offer, including recent significant investments such as the Waterfront and V&A Dundee and future potential projects like the Green Port, Esports Arena and Eden Project, is enhanced by a friendly local community, an attractive quality of life and a low cost of living.

“This all adds to our offer, as a place not only to do business but to live in.

“For Dundee to be included in this report, alongside 20 other places around the world where the future is being built right now, is brilliant.

“And for MSIP to be recognised as a key part of that, so early in our journey, is a huge compliment.”