President Jokowi and Elon Musk to Headline 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Highlighting Global Collaboration and Mangrove Initiatives

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting, highlighting the critical need for global cooperation in managing water resources to address increasingly complex future challenges.

“Too much water and too little water both can be a problem for the world,” President Jokowi stated at the High-Level Meeting of the 10th World Water Forum, which was attended by representatives from 48 countries and international organizations in Bali on Monday, May 20.

For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, global water issues were discussed at the head-of-state level during a High-Level Meeting. Over the past decade, Indonesia has significantly enhanced its water infrastructure by constructing 42 dams, developing 1.18 million hectares of irrigation networks, building 2,156 km of flood control and coastal security systems, and rehabilitating 4.3 million hectares of irrigation networks. Additionally, Indonesia has constructed Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar power plant at the Cirata Reservoir.

President Jokowi emphasized that the 10th World Water Forum is crucial for revitalizing concrete actions and joint commitments to achieve integrated water resources management. Indonesia has consistently advocated for increased solidarity and inclusiveness to find joint solutions, especially for small island nations and those facing water scarcity. The country also promotes hydro-diplomacy to foster innovative cooperation while avoiding competition in transboundary water resources management. Strengthening political leadership is crucial for Indonesia’s success in achieving sustainable water security through various collaborations.

President Joko Widodo announced four new initiatives promoted by Indonesia at the 10th World Water Forum: the establishment of World Lake Day, the creation of a center of excellence in the Asia Pacific, sustainable water management in small island countries, and the promotion of water projects. “Water is not just a natural product but a product of collaboration that unites us, so joint efforts are needed to protect it,” President Jokowi concluded.

In a related development, President Jokowi addressed Elon Musk, highlighting Indonesia’s acceleration of national digital transformation and the investment opportunities in infrastructure, government technology, digital economy, and digital society sectors. “Pak Musk, Indonesia is currently accelerating national digital transformation and opening many investment potentials in infrastructure, government technology, digital economy, and digital society sectors. Therefore, we appreciate and continue to encourage the development of investments by SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and Boring in Indonesia,” said President Jokowi.

Regarding the ongoing Starlink collaboration, President Jokowi expressed his hope that Starlink could synergize with internet providers in Indonesia to provide affordable internet access, prioritize consumer protection, and offer lower prices for public services, including remote health centers and schools in Indonesia. Elon Musk, in response, expressed his honor to participate in the forum and his pleasure to be in Bali. “We hope to provide Starlink connectivity to support educational and health facilities in Indonesia,” Musk said.

On the same day, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and leaders from member countries of the 10th World Water Forum visited Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park (Tahura) in Bali. Tahura serves as a place for rehabilitating and conserving mangroves, implementing the Balinese principle of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes the balance between God, humans, and the environment.

Unlike during the G20 Summit 2022, this time, the President and WWF-10 country leaders did not plant mangrove seedlings personally but handed them over to children, symbolizing the next generation’s responsibility for environmental conservation efforts. “The handing over of seedlings and the planting process at Tahura reflects our joint commitment to enhance cooperation and affirm concrete actions in global development,” President Jokowi said. He also invited all delegates to enter the mangrove planting area located along the estuary, which is supported by solar power technology. This technology provides electricity in some mangrove conservation areas.

The 10th World Water Forum upholds the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity,” reflecting the concrete realization of Indonesia’s and the world’s commitment to addressing climate change through green economic development and sustainable environmental conservation. The mangroves planted in Ngurah Rai Tahura are vital for supporting ecosystems and people’s prosperity, filtering and regulating the freshwater cycle, and serving as a solution to address climate change and biodiversity loss. (Gaby/HET)