Jakarta, ABIM (17/11/2023) – “Indonesia-Japan collaboration in PUPR infrastructure commenced in 1968 with the construction of the Karangkates Multifunctional Dam, and was subsequently extended to the Komering Irrigation in 1982,” Minister Basuki stated on Wednesday (11/15) at a symposium commemorating 65 years of Indonesian diplomatic relations with Japan under the title “Next Generation Leaders – Connecting Indonesia and Japan.”

Minister Basuki further stated that the subsequent infrastructure collaboration between Indonesia and Japan spanned from 1961 to 2002 and involved the administration of the Brantas River area. This endeavor significantly contributed to the mitigation of flooding in Surabaya and its environs.

For this reason, Minister Basuki revealed that he had submitted a proposal to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to rejuvenate/revitalize the Sabo Engineering Hall which was visited by His Majesty the Japanese Emperor Naruhito on June 21 2023 Then.

The Sabo Technical Center, which operates as an entity subordinate to the Directorate General of Water Resources of the Ministry of PUPR, is dedicated to the advancement, design, and execution of technical inspection, evaluation, certification, and testing services in the sabo domain. In addition, the Sabo Technical Center houses a vertical sabo training center that teaches sabo-related knowledge. In addition to Indonesian engineers, participants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea attended this training.

Yasui Takehiro, chief representative of the JICA Indonesia office, remarked that this meeting was an excellent opportunity to discuss the future development of cooperation between Japan and Indonesia in a variety of fields, such as health, renewable energy, roads and bridges, water resources, and sanitation.

Director General of Water Resources Bob Arthur Lombogia, Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for Development Integration Maulidya Indah Junica, and Minister of PUPR for Technology, Industry, and the Environment Endra S. Atmawidjaja were also in attendance to accompany Minister Basuki.(ABIM)