Beijing – Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (MPWH) Basuki Hadimuljono met with the President of the World Water Council Loïc Fauchon in Beijing on September 23, 2024. The meeting focused on following up the actual implementation of the 10th World Water Forum, which includes the establishment of the World Lakes Day.

Minister Basuki thanked the World Water Council for its support in the preparation and implementation of the 10th World Water Forum, which was successfully held in Bali from May 18 to 25, 2024.

Following the 10th World Water Forum, Minister Basuki informed that the MPWH, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), is preparing to launch the World Lakes Day as one of the agreements of the 10th World Water Forum. 

"We have proposed the establishment of a World Lakes Day to be discussed at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York from September 24-28, 2024. Out of several proposals, August 27 was selected as World Lakes Day, in line with the date of the first World Lakes Conference in 1984," said Minister Basuki.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared a draft concept and a draft resolution to be discussed at the UN platform. The Indonesian government has also proposed the Sabo Training Center at Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, as a center of excellence for water and climate resilience in the Asia-Pacific region and suggested integrated water resources management (IWRM) on small islands. Both proposals will be presented at the Platinum Jubilee Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung in April 2025.

In addition, the Indonesian Parliament has proposed the formation of a Water Caucus to address water issues in Indonesia and globally at a meeting on July 16, 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York. After the meeting, the Water Caucus will be followed by more concrete actions through diplomacy and the formation/strengthening of water laws in various countries.

"Finally, we held a gathering of Indonesia Water Warriors in Jakarta, which was attended by around 300 communities, especially the younger generation. This activity is a first step to mobilize the participation of the young generation in the water sector agenda and as a follow-up to the Bali Youth Plan. To promote the role of the young generation in the water sector, the Indonesian government will award the Bali Youth Water Prize at the next World Water Forum in Riyadh," said Minister Basuki.

Minister Basuki also expressed Indonesia's pride that Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was recently appointed as the UN Special Envoy for Water.

"This is an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of the outcomes of the 10th World Water Forum and advance the SDGs and the water agenda as priority agendas of global policy, especially with the appointment of Ms. Retno Marsudi. We hope to continue working with the World Water Council in the development of our water sector in the future,” he concluded.