Nusa Dua, May 25, 2024 – The 10th World Water Forum in Bali is a new milestone for Indonesia's leadership role in the global water initiative. As co-host of the event, together with the World Water Council, Indonesia has taken on a number of legacies to be continued at the next World Water Forum in Saudi Arabia.
With the presence of a number of world leaders and leading personalities from around the world at the 10th World Water Forum, Indonesia has succeeded in raising the level of the world's largest water forum to a prestigious high-level conference in the eyes of the international public.
“The 10th World Water Forum is the best forum in the 30 years it has been held. Indonesia has raised the standards for holding the World Water Forum," said Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, after the closing ceremony of the 10th World Water Forum at the Bali International Convention Center, Nusa Dua Bali, on Friday (5/24/2024).
As the host country, Indonesia managed to include 3 themes in the Ministerial Declaration of the 10th World Water Forum, namely the establishment of the World Lakes Day, the establishment of a Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience, and the mainstreaming of the integrated water resources management in small islands. Indonesia also managed to convey the spirit of cooperation in the Spirit of Bandung in various sessions during the week of the 10th World Water Forum.
The 10th World Water Forum also recorded significant results for the realization of the goal “Water for Shared Prosperity”. For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, the Ministerial Declaration includes a compendium of concrete outcomes and actions, covering 113 water and sanitation projects worth USD 9.4 billion with 33 countries and 53 international organizations as supporters, donors and beneficiaries of water and sanitation.
The outcomes of the 10th World Water Forum are in line with President Joko Widodo's mandate that this forum can promote solidarity and inclusion among countries and stakeholders, strengthen hydro-diplomacy for innovative and concrete cooperation, and strengthen political leadership and commitment. "There is a need to ensure that this works and is implemented," said Minister Basuki.
In terms of the number of participants, Indonesia has reached the level of a high-level conference. "What makes the 10th World Water Forum special is the fact that this is the first time this Forum has become a high-level conference, which was not the case with the previous nine World Water Forums," said Minister Basuki.
The 10th World Water Forum in Bali was attended by five heads of state, namely the Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the President of Fiji Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, the Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and the Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda.
The forum was also attended by 51 ministers and 57 high-ranking officials, as well as 27 international organizations with a total of 135 officials at ministerial level. On the parliamentary side, 200 members of parliament from 49 countries took part. Also present were 150 representatives of local and regional authorities from 23 countries and 847 representatives of sub-regions.
The 10th World Water Forum is a series of events that began 2 years ago, starting with the National Stakeholders Forum and culminating in the final event that took place in Bali from May 18-25, 2024. The total number of participants amounted to 50,488.
The peak event in Bali was attended by 19,686 participants from 160 countries. The number of visitors of the Fair & Expo from May 20-24, 2024 was 23,718, including exhibitors. The total number of participants and visitors for 5 days (May 20-24, 2024) was around 64 thousand people.
"The previous record, the World Water Forum in Brazil, was attended by about 40,000 participants and visitors, so we are already bigger," said Minister Basuki.
The President of the World Water Council, Loïc Fauchon, also praised the organization of the 10th World Water Forum. He described Indonesia as the water capital of the world which has produced water warriors.
“The 10th World Water Forum is the best in the history of this forum," he said. "We will continue to work with Indonesia to fulfill the mandate of the 10th World Water Forum until the next Forum," Loïc said. (Yandi/Natalia Santi/Firda Puri)