VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has thanked the World Bank for contributing to and cooperating with his ministry on achieving the 2020–2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) targets.

"The World Bank has the largest portion of financing in ongoing projects in the ministry, with the support amounting to 24.71 percent or around US$1.68 billion from the total loan of US$6.8 billion," Hadimuljono informed here on Tuesday.

A total of 10 projects under the ministry have been funded by the World Bank.

In the 2020–2022 period, the ministry rehabilitated and modernized 826,531 hectares of irrigation systems, improved 163 dams, and provided access to drinking water at a rate of 2,988 liters per second.

The ministry also repaired and built 546,561 houses and helped more than 25 thousand families get affordable houses.

These achievements were supported by loans from the World Bank, such as through the Dam Operational Improvement and Safety Project (DOISP) II and the Strategic Irrigation Modernization and Urgent Rehabilitation Project (SIMURP).

Hadimuljono also discussed future projects that have been proposed to be funded through collaboration with the World Bank.

"In April 2023, the ministry proposed increasing the loan amount for the River Basin Improvement Program from US$50 million to US$500 million," Hadimuljono said.

His side also proposed US$178.38 million in funding for the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) – Service Project Towards Safely Managed Urban Sanitation.

He also invited World Bank delegates to participate in the 2024 World Water Forum (WWF) in Bali, which carries the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity."

He expressed the hope that cooperation between the ministry and the World Bank will continue to strengthen and generate benefits through inclusive development strategies.

Minister Hadimuljono received Benoît Bosquet, the World Bank's regional director for sustainable development, East Asia Pacific, and other delegates in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The candidate for the post of the new regional director, Anna Wellenstein, was introduced during the meeting. (antaranews)