Jakarta, (February 16, 2023) - World Water Forum Kick-Off Meeting, facilitated several discussions on six topics of water management through thematic and regional processes at the Jakarta Convention Center. This event was attended by policy makers, academics, practitioners, and associations operating in and related to the water sector.
Minister of Public Works and Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono at a press conference (Feb. 15) said that the Kick-Off Meeting was an opportunity to discuss water in terms of politics. It takes cooperation and collaboration from various parties to be able to maintain the sustainability of water.
"Through this Kick-off Meeting, there are at least six main issues of water resources that will be discussed through political, thematic and regional processes to find solutions, innovations and implementation," said Minister Basuki.
There are six topics to be discussed in parallel in the Kick-Off Meeting thematic series. The first is Water for Humans and Nature which discusses water management and the relation with humans and nature. This topic was moderated by Thomas Van Waeyenberge from AquaFed together with the Director of the Polytechnic Public Works of the PUPR Ministry, Indratmo Soekarno.
There was also the topic of Water Security and Prosperity which was moderated by Jin Hai from the International Economic & Technical Cooperation and Exchange Centre, together with Joni Hermana from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember.
The third topic, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, which discussed water management and disaster management efforts. The discussion was moderated by Budi Santoso Wignyosukarto from Gadjah Mada University together with Mikio Ishiwatari from the Japan Water Forum.
An issue of collaboration was also discussed on the topic of Cooperation and Hydro Diplomacy. The discussion was assisted by Mochamad Amron from the National Water Saving Partnership Movement (GNKPA) as moderator with Mohamed Fawzi Bedredine, Project Regional Coordinator, Senegal River Basin Organization (OMVS).
Meanwhile, the discussion on water management from a financial perspective is discussed through the fifth topic, namely Water and Innovative Finance. This discussion was moderated by Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Director, Water Global Practice, The World Bank together with Fauziah Zen from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
The sixth topic is Knowledge and Innovation. It was moderated by Callum Clench, Executive Director of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) together with Robert J. Kodoatie from Diponegoro University.
In addition to the thematic processes, there is also regional process that discussed the agendas of various countries and the expected results. This regional process is divided into two groups, one for Asia Pacific countries and another for the Mediterranean countries.
Through the Kick-Off Meeting, which took place on February 15—16, 2023, Indonesia demonstrated its readiness to host the 10th World Water Forum in 2024 with Bali set to host the event. The government is targeting the attendance of 17,000 participants and 30,000 visitors from 172 countries.
The 10th World Water Forum theme is "Water for Shared Prosperity”, by considering the current global condition which faces the challenge of clean water availability in many countries. Indonesia iscommitted to strengthening the collaboration of various stakeholders in achieving Goal 6 of the SDGs, that is related to the right for clean water and sanitation.
Jakarta, February 16, 2023
National Organizing Committee of the 10th World Water Forum
Email: secretariat@worldwaterforum.org
IG: @worldwaterforum10