VP Ma’ruf Amin Praises SOEs’ Support for Clean Water Services

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin (Photo by: BPMI of Vice Presidential Secretariat)

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has underscored the importance of strategic measures to increase the coverage of national clean water services.

The Government has set the target that 100 percent of households will have access to safe drinking water by 2024.

“The Government has set the target for the improvement of clean water for communities through a sustainable economic system, so that the people can benefit from the equal distribution of clean water services,” Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said at the virtual opening of State-Owned Enterprises International Conference and the launching of the Indonesia Water Fund (IWF) in Jakarta, Monday (10/17).

On that occasion, the Vice President applauded Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises for initiating the IWF program as part of measures to support the financing of clean water supply in Indonesia.

“The IWF aims to support the acceleration of investment in providing clean water services to households and is expected to be a part of solution for the Government through non-State Budget funding,” he said.

According to the Vice President, the Government and SOEs need support from stakeholders and communities to improve clean water services.

Closing his remarks, the Vice President expressed hope that the event could improve people’s access to clean water and improve the quality of life of the people.

In the meantime, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir said that only 23 percent of Indonesia’s population had access to clean water, and some other Indonesians still faced inequality in the price of clean water ranging from Rp65,000 (US$ 4.4) to Rp140,000 (US$ 9.5) per cubic meter. To that end, the IWF aims to increase access to clean water through the synergy of various stakeholders.

“Through the synergy between State-Owned Enterprises and strategic partners at the global level and supports from private enterprises, the IWF is expected to be an alternative solution for the Government in expanding access to clean water for communities,” he said.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the Government’s strategic measures in the development need support from State-Owned Enterprises.

“State-Owned Enterprises, with their two functions as value creator and agent of development, are able to provide important goods and services. The State-Owned Enterprises exist in all sectors, including industry, mining, health, forestry, tourism, and infrastructure sectors. In this era, State-Owned Enterprises play a very strategic role, especially during the pandemic. In the last three years they have contributed greatly in stabilizing the economy,” Luhut remarked. (BPMI of Vice Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RI/MMB)