Bali, ABIM (18/10/2023) – Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono expresses particular optimism regarding the assistance provided by the Asia Water Council (AWC) and the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) in order to generate concrete results during the upcoming 10th World Water Forum 2024 in Bali. On October 12-13, 2023, during a bilateral meeting at the 2nd Stakeholder Consultation Meeting, Minister Basuki conveyed this view.
During the meeting, Minister Basuki also proposed that IWRA have a national secretariat (chapter) in Indonesia, similar to the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) with the National Committee on Large Dams (INACOLD) and the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) with the Indonesian National Committee on Irrigation And Drainage (INACID)/ Indonesian National Committee for Irrigation and Drainage (KNI-ID).
“So far we have professional associations in the water resources sector such as the Indonesian Hydraulic Engineering Experts Association (HATHI),” said Basuki, the minister of water resources.
In response, Callum Clench, Executive Director of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), asked Indonesia to submit a Letter of Interest for an IWRA national secretariat (chapter) in Indonesia.
“It is very possible that an IWRA national secretariat will be established in Indonesia.” As a result, we invite Indonesia to write an official letter for the next step in the process,” said Callum Clench.
On this occasion, Callum also invited Minister Basuki to the Small Islands Congress in 2024. “We will send further information about next year’s island congress,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with the Secretary General of the Asia Water Council (AWC) and also the General Manager of K-Water Yong-deok Cho, Minister Basuki discussed the development of cooperation plans in the water sector.
Some forms of K-Water collaboration with Indonesia include the implementation of the Karian Dam in West Java, which is one of the public private partnership (PPP) projects. And also the development of the Sepaku Semoi water treatment plant at IKN Nusantara which uses zero carbon technology, as an effort to support the Green Transition Initiatives (GTI) platform.(ABIM)
