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Jokowi describes 10th World Water Forum as a priority on the agenda
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ext year, in 2024, Indonesia is set to host the 10th World Water Forum (WWF). To commemorate this and start the preparations leading up to it, a kick-off meeting was held on Feb. 15-16 at the Jakarta Convention Center, Central Jakarta.
With over 1,400 attendees from a variety of key individuals in the water-management field, this meeting serves as an introduction to next year's 10th WWF.
Indonesia being chosen as the host of the 10th WWF is expected to be a huge collaborative opportunity in the water resource-management field and can have a positive economic impact on Indonesia. The government is currently aiming for around 17,000 participants and over 30,000 visitors from over 172 countries to the event, which will be held in Bali on May 18-24, 2024.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo highlighted the importance of a few agendas that must be prioritized in next year's forum: water conservation efforts, availability of clean water and sanitation, food and energy security and mitigation of natural disasters such as floods and droughts.
"These agendas must be addressed as joint efforts, through community participation and support from various stakeholders, as well as dialogue and partnerships between countries in the spirit of togetherness for the welfare of the global community," said President Jokowi in his remarks delivered via a video message.
The president of the World Water Council, Loic Fauchon, stated in the opening ceremony that the kick-off meeting could put water issues on the center stage of government focus. Water is the only natural resource that is not renewable, so it is imperative to achieve water sustainability.
"We have in common that we are interested in the future of water, […] in the present," added Loïc.
The 10th WWF is headlined by the theme Water for Shared Prosperity, taking a look at the current world conditions, in which multiple countries face challenges regarding accessibility of clean water. Indonesia is committing to strengthening the collaboration of various stakeholders in meeting the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly the right to clean water and sanitation.
“Let us listen to each other with humility, and speak with modesty, in the service of a common ambition: to give back hope, dignity, through the possibility of access to water, sanitation, security and prosperity for all,” said Loïc.
After the opening ceremony, a press conference was held that presented a number of key figures, including Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, president of the World Water Council Loïc Fauchon, Senegalese Water and Sanitation Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam and Bali Governor Wayan Koster, with the Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Communications and Information Ministry Usman Kansong as moderator.
Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono commented, “The 10th WWF is the largest cross-border event to discuss water resources issues [yet]. At the same time, it is also a forum for sharing experiences and innovations to answer various challenges in global water management.”
He further elaborated, “During the 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 their implementation."
The Senegalese Water and Sanitation Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam added to the discussion by expressing his appreciation to Indonesia for hosting this event. Also, he stated that there was a continuity between this WWF’s theme, Water for Shared Prosperity, with the previous forum’s theme, Water Security for Peace and Development, which was hosted by Senegal.
"We cannot achieve prosperity without security for future generations. From here, we can smell delicious food, just like we can smell WWF's success from today's kick-off meeting,” said Minister Mbaye.
Additionally, Bali Governor Wayan Koster explained that Bali was chosen as the host of this forum because of its philosophy of water. On the island, water is not only used for daily activities like drinking, cooking, bathing, washing and irrigation, but for Balinese people, water is tirta, which means it is used to purify themselves, to cleanse humans from all impurity.
"[To hold] the 10th World Water Forum in Bali is an honor, and the opening date will be May 18, 2024, coinciding with the day to honor water for the Balinese people," added Wayan.
WWF is the largest international meeting for the water sector, only held every three years and involving stakeholders from across the world. Bali was officially chosen as the host during the previous forum in Dakar, Senegal, on March 19, 2022, after collecting 30 votes of the total 36 from the Water Council Board of Governors. As for its water management, Bali is known for its Subak irrigation system, which is also a world cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.
