Stockholm, Sweden, ABIM (23/8/2023) – In his working visit to Stockholm, Sweden, on Monday (8/21), Minister of Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono also met with Karin Gardes, Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and Chief Organizer of the 2023 World Water Week.

Minister Basuki invited SIWI to take an active role in the largest forum in the field of Water Resources (SDA), the 10th World Water Forum which will be held in Bali, Indonesia in 2024.

Minister Basuki claims that SIWI’s support of UNICEF’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program through projects and programs aimed at building capacity in the water and sanitation sector has been excellent and in line with Indonesia’s needs.

“I believe that this will meet our needs, as Indonesia will have completed the SDG target of 90% access to sanitation in 2030 and 100% access to clean water by 2024. Therefore, SIWI can assist with its knowledge and experience, Minister Basuki explained.

According to SIWI Executive Director Karin Gardes, SIWI has a “Stockholm Water Prize” program that provides prizes for successful real-practice water management strategies.

“The program offered is expertise and governance in the field of water management. And more focus on infrastructure and technology for handling the water crisis. In addition, water must be handled in a transparent and cross-border manner. SIWI also has a mechanism to connect cross-cutting issues such as pollution, social issues and others,” Karin said.

Minister Basuki also invited SIWI to expand its representative offices to various regions, including Southeast Asia. Moreover, SIWI currently has representative offices in Aman – Jordan and Pretoria – South Africa.

“Congratulations and success to SIWI for holding World Water Week 2023. And we hope, if you want to expand regional representation in Southeast Asia, SIWI can focus on the issue of climate change adaptation so that it can be implemented with real programs and projects in surrounding countries,” Minister Basuki said.

Accompanying Minister Basuki, Indonesian Ambassador to Sweden Kamapradipta Isnomo, Deputy for Facilities and Infrastructure of Bappenas Ervan Maksum, Director General of Housing Iwan Suprijanto, Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for Technology, Industry and Environment Endra S. Atmawidjaja, and President Director of PT Brantas Abipraya Sugeng Rochadi.(ABIM)