The Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry is exploring cooperation in the infrastructure sector with three countries, namely Australia, New Zealand, and Cambodia.
This occurred during the official visit of PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, accompanying Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese, New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, and Cambodian PM Hun Manet in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday (5/3).
The bilateral meeting is a component of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, convened to commemorate 50 years of ASEAN-Australia partnership. The discussions encompassed topics such as sustainability and collaborative opportunities among nations, particularly within the infrastructure sector.
Minister Basuki said that cooperation between Indonesian and Australia in infrastructure development was realised through the Indonesia-Australia Partnership for Infrastructure (KIAT). With a cooperation value of 150 million Australian dollars, this partnership was effective until 30 June 2022. “The KIAT programme has been extended to June 2026. Collaboration through the programme will focus on the water and sanitation sector, the transportation sector, and the infrastructure financing sector,” Basuki said in his press statement as quoted on Thursday (7/2/2024).
In the infrastructure sector, another collaboration with the Australian government involves the construction of Palembang Integrated Domestic Wastewater Treatment System (SPALD-T), which President Jokowi inaugurated on 26 October 2023. The grant, totalling around 67 million Australian dollars, was utilised for building the wastewater treatment plant and pump stations capable of serving 120,000 people with a daily capacity of 20,000 m3.
“The Indonesian government is also continuing the construction of its pipeline network. Starting from the main collecting pipe to household connections with the same investment value,” Basuki added.
Source: pwc.com
