Indonesia Ready to Host 5th Asia Pacific Water Summit in 2027

Tokyo, VIVA – Indonesia ready to host the 5th Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) in 2027.

This readiness follows the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) for the organization of the event in Indonesia.

The LoI was signed by Minister of Public Works Basuki Hadimuljono and the President of the APWF or Japan Water Forum, Yoshiro Mori, in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday (Sept 26).

Minister Hadimuljono expressed gratitude for the trust given to Indonesia to host the 2027 Asia-Pacific Water Summit.

"I expressed my gratitude for the support from all of you in successfully hosting the 10th World Water Forum held last May in Bali, particularly for coordinating the Asia-Pacific regional session," the minister said.

He explained that the LoI includes the signing, purpose, intent, and commitment to organizing the 5th APWS in Indonesia.

Following this, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed as a follow-up to the LoI. The MoU is planned to be signed in January or February 2025.

Minister Hadimuljono further explained that the MoU aims to formalize the terms and details of the agreed cooperation.

It will cover the principles and agenda of the 5th APWS, governance and organization of the event, communication and marketing, logistics, resources and planning, including finances, and post-APWS follow-up.

"We propose that the 5th APWS be held in the new capital city, Nusantara (IKN), and this will be included as one of the points in the MoU," he stated.

The 5th APWS will continue the Kumamoto Declaration, adopted during the 4th APWS, and the Ministerial Declaration, adopted during the 10th World Water Forum, as part of the preparations leading up to the 2028 UN Water Conference in New York.

In addition, the Indonesian government, together with the Japan Water Forum, will advocate for the establishment of World Lake Day.

“We will promote the proposal for World Lake Day at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September 24 to 28, 2024, in New York. Several suggestions have been made, and August 27 has been chosen as World Lake Day, marking the historical date of the 1st World Lake Conference in 1984 at Lake Biwa, Japan,” he concluded.