Nusa Dua, May 23 2024 - The Indonesian government is opening up new prospects for cooperation with various countries to address global water management challenges. These steps of cooperation are part of a series of initiatives that have been presented at the 10th World Water Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, from May 18to 25, 2024.

Endra S. Atmawidjaja, Special Advisor to the  Minister of Public Works and Housing (MPWH) for Technology, Industry and the Environment and Vice Chair of Secretariat I of the 10th World Water Forum National Organizing Committee, said that the 10th World Water Forum Ministerial Declaration on “Water for Shared Prosperity” is a significant step towards cooperation and collaboration in addressing global water challenges, particularly in the management of water resources, which should now be put into practice.

“The first point concerns integrated water resources management (IWRM) for small islands," he said. "We raised this important issue at the Bandung Spirit Water Summit, where these various challenges can be solved through cooperation with other countries," he added.

"Secondly, the establishment of the Global Water Fund shows that we cannot solve water problems by relying on one country alone, but by promoting cooperation between countries," Endra said at a press conference titled "Danone Indonesia's Commitment to Answering Water Challenges" at the Media Center, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), on Thursday (23/5/24).

In addition, the Indonesian government has agreed to establish a Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience to address the problems of water management due to climate change. In this context, Indonesia will focus on strengthening South-South Cooperation (SSC).

"This Center of Excellence (COE) is the answer to the climate challenges we are now facing in the world," he added.

Indonesia is also advocating for the establishment of World Lakes Day, which is motivated by the state of lakes in the world, including Indonesia, which is already in the critical category. This lake, which serves as a water reservoir, must be preserved to ensure the availability of water for all people in the world.

"The designation of World Lakes Day has become an issue in various countries because lakes, as water reservoirs, are unique ecosystems that can ensure water security. We want to preserve the lake in a more sustainable way," Endra said.

At the 10th World Water Forum, the Indonesian government not only carried out a number of initiatives in cooperation with other countries but also opened doors for new projects or cooperation with the private sector to tackle the world’s water problems. This is because the contribution of the private sector plays a very important role in supporting the accessibility and availability of adequate drinking water for the community.

VP General Secretary Danone Indonesia Vera Galuh Sugijanto, said her party will support government programs to address water challenges and accelerate the achievement of targets for the availability of adequate and safe drinking water.

"Danone Indonesia has implemented the Danone Water Policy, which focuses on three main pillars, namely the protection of water resources and the environment, the promotion of water in reuse in production systems, and access to clean water and sanitation through the WASH (Water Access, Sanitation and Hydration) program," she said.

The WASH program is a multi-sectoral cooperation program that aims to improve access to clean water in a number of areas that have limited access to clean water. To date, the WASH program has provided more than 500,000 people with access to clean water. (Firda Puri)