The 10th World Water Forum (WWF) which took place in Bali, became quite a strategic momentum for Indonesia in order to realize various national interests. Indonesia will take advantage of this opportunity to continue to strengthen the role of diplomacy amidst the emergence of various global challenges, not only for the common interests of the world, but also for its own domestic interests.
Indonesia hosted the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), which was attended by delegates from world countries as well as other relevant organizations and stakeholders who had an interest in jointly discussing global environmental issues, especially water.
After previously successfully holding a number of international standard events such as the G20 Summit, the 42nd and 43rd ASEAN Summits, and the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, Indonesia has once again gained the confidence to hold the 10th WWF. At the World Water Council (WWC) General Assembly, March 19 2022 in Dakar, Senegal, Indonesia was officially designated as the host of the World Water Forum or WWF in 2024. The 10th WWF took place from the 18th to the 25th in Nusa Dua Bali and featured more than 100 countries.
Indonesia, as the host of the World Water Forum, continues to prove the quality of its political diplomacy and leadership in international eyes to open a forum for sharing experiences and innovation in facing various global challenges, including environmental issues and climate change such as water problems.
Indonesia had the honor of being the host. Not only as a host but capital, water capital of the world. The world’s capital is about water, where the world’s eyes are focused on Indonesia. This was stated by PUPR Ministry Spokesperson Endra S. Atmawidjaja in a discussion with the theme “Water Sustainability, a Need for Common Life” held by the West Merdeka Forum 9 (FMB9) last February.
On various occasions, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized the importance of getting real benefits for Indonesia when hosting international events. Therefore, Indonesia of course shows strong leadership so that various water issues can be resolved at the highest level, with various solutions and innovations.
Endra revealed that during WWF, Indonesia had the opportunity for publicity, exposure, MSMEs, and improving the tourism sector. However, behind that, Indonesia also hopes that there are water-related programs that can enter Indonesia so that they can help solve various existing water problems. become a program to be implemented as part of water management policy. Both at national and international levels with member countries. Of course, Indonesia also places its national interests at the 10th WWF, where diplomacy is one form of prioritizing Indonesia’s national interests.
So far, Indonesia’s international diplomacy has been on the right track. According to Member of Commission I DPR RI for the period 2019 – 2024, Christina Aryani, this method of diplomacy shows Indonesia’s high self-confidence and optimism in accordance with its foreign policy vision which targets Indonesia to become a regional great power in 2031 and even a major power in 2045. International trust in Indonesia This is proof that foreign policy, international diplomacy and Indonesia’s role at the global level are highly taken into account.
President Jokowi also on various occasions with international standards, always emphasizes the importance of collaboration and synergy between countries where cooperation is needed to produce strategic, concrete and tactical steps in solving common problems. Indonesia continues to invite all countries to continue to build unity and collaboration to face global challenges and threats.
It cannot be denied that Indonesia’s diplomacy in the international arena has always succeeded in bringing various benefits both to the world and to the interests and welfare of its own country. Various national interests are contained in the diplomatic efforts that Indonesia continues to carry out, especially in WWF, which is a momentum to show Indonesia’s resilience and leadership so as to give birth to concrete cooperation that is beneficial between countries and for the welfare of their people.
WWF is a multi-stakeholder event to explain the mission, views and achievements of the water community, so that Indonesia raises the big theme ” Water for Shared Prosperity ” or Water for Shared Prosperity. In this forum, delegates from various countries together with relevant stakeholders discussed Water resilience and prosperity, Water for Humans and Nature, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy, Sustainable Water Financing and Knowledge and Innovation.
Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for Water Resources Firdaus Ali, in a press conference, stated that as the host of WWF 2024, Indonesia wants to bring water as a source of growth and shared prosperity, not to give rise to problems. According to him, the meeting of countries and stakeholders at WWF this time is a monumental event to transform all policies, all spirits to jointly welcome the future to make water a source of life, growth and peace.
The water problem is a global problem that requires concrete solutions so that it produces real and accountable implementation, not only to the world but also to domestic society. Cooperation and collaboration is needed between the government, relevant stakeholders and the community, so as to produce technology and innovation that can support the implementation of sustainable clean water management policies in the community. Cooperation between countries is also very important to share experiences so that the benefits and advantages of an innovation can be studied.
Expert Staff to the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) for Economics and Investment, Dadang Rukmana, explained that WWF’s mission is to provide a platform for all stakeholders in the water sector to discuss, share knowledge and experience, and create concrete ideas in management and development better water resources. Apart from that, it will also encourage innovative thinking in overcoming current issues and problems in water resources management, increasing the commitment and action of policy makers in the management and development of sustainable water resources.
The World Water Forum has been held every three years since 1997. For your information, the 10th World Water Forum carries six main sub-themes, namely water security and prosperity; water for humans and nature; disaster risk reduction and management; governance, cooperation, and hydro-diplomacy; sustainable water financing; and knowledge and innovation.
Indonesia has once again proven itself to unite world countries which is increasingly improving the image of the country on the global stage.
