Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening of the 10th World Water Forum 2024, at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC), Badung Regency, Bali Province, May 20, 2024
Your Excellencies, heads of state, heads of international organizations, President of the World Water Council, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, distinguished guests and invited guests,
Welcome to Bali. It is an honor for Indonesia to be trusted to host the 10th World Water Forum to strengthen joint commitment and formulate concrete actions for inclusive and sustainable water management.
Let’s imagine, of the 72 percent of the earth’s surface covered with water, only 1 percent can be accessed and used for drinking water and sanitation purposes. Even in 2050, 500 million small farmers who contribute 80 percent of the world’s food are predicted to be the most vulnerable to drought. Without water there is no food, no peace, no life. No water, no life, no growth. Therefore, water must be managed well because every drop is very valuable.
Your Excellencies,
As a country with 65 percent of its area being water, Indonesia is rich in local wisdom in water management, from along the coastlines, riverbanks, to lake shores. Our society has a cultural value towards water, one of which is the Subak irrigation system in Bali which has been practiced since the 11th century and is recognized as world cultural heritage.
Moreover, for the Balinese people, water is a glory that contains spiritual and cultural values that must be managed together. This is in line with our theme this year, namely “Water for Shared Prosperity” which can be interpreted as three basic principles, namely avoiding competition, prioritizing equality and inclusive cooperation, and supporting peace and shared prosperity, all three of which can only be realized with one key word, namely collaboration. In Indonesia, collaboration has been the key to success in restoring the Citarum River, as well as developing green energy from floating solar panels in the Cirata Reservoir, which is the largest in Southeast Asia and third in the world.
Your Excellencies,
With our gathering in Bali today, Indonesia certainly hopes that the world can join hands on an ongoing basis to strengthen the commitment to collaborate in overcoming global challenges related to water. Let’s preserve our water today for shared prosperity tomorrow.
And, in relation to continuity, in October my term as President will come to an end. On this good occasion, allow me to introduce the president-elect of Indonesia Mr. Prabowo Subianto who is currently serving as the Minister of Defense, who will continue Indonesia’s commitment to contribute toward world water management. Thank you, Mr Prabowo.
Your Excellencies,
Water is the source of life, water is also a symbol of balance and harmony. However, if not managed properly, water can also be a source of disaster.
And, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I officially open the 10th World Water Forum.
I thank you.
(TM/MMB)