Indonesia Highlights Water Crisis, Blue Economy, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation at World Economic Forum

DAVOS – The statistics for the year 2022 reveal that Indonesia experienced 3,544 natural disasters, with 98 percent being hydrometeorological in nature. These disasters claimed 3,183 lives and affected 18 million people in the country over the past decade. 

Globally, the projected decrease in rainfall by 1-4 percent from 2020 to 2034 is expected to trigger droughts and conflicts over water allocation. 

"As an archipelagic country, Indonesia is on the frontline of this global crisis," stated the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa during the "Freshwater: The True Value of Resilience" discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (17/1).

In the upcoming 10th World Water Forum, scheduled to be held in Bali in May 2024, Indonesia will address priorities outlined in the 2025-2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) to enhance water storage capacity, conserve water resources, implement smart water management systems, and develop green-grey infrastructure for water-related disaster management. "This forum will deliver concrete results and collective actions on water for a sustainable future for the planet," said Minister Suharso.

To achieve sustainable development, break free from the middle-income trap, and become a high-income country by 2045, Indonesia is targeting an economic growth of 6-7 percent, with the blue economy being a major factor in its achievement. To do so, Indonesia has launched the Blue Economy Roadmap, developed the Indonesian Blue Economy Index, and initiated the 2023 ASEAN Blue Economy Forum in Belitung and will initiate the 2024 ASEAN Blue Economy Forum in Bali, set for the middle of the year. 

"Through efforts to build the Blue Economy, Indonesia is committed to increasing the maritime economy's contribution to GDP, from 7.92 percent in 2022 to 15 percent in 2045," Minister Suharso explained.

As the Co-Chairman of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC), Indonesia will host the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships GPEDC in July 2024 to discuss the enhancement of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, one of Indonesia's foreign policy priorities in the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2020-2024. The discussions will also cover entrepreneurship, global supply chains, as well as trade and investment. 

"The Indonesian government will optimize the commemoration of UNCTAD's 60th anniversary and Indonesia's chairmanship in the Trade Development Board 2024 to strengthen cooperation with UNCTAD," Minister Suharso elaborated during a bilateral meeting with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebecca Grynspan.