Resilience, giant sea wall subjects at Jakarta conference

Senior Indonesian officials called for partnerships in developing impactful infrastructure in the world's largest archipelago, during a gathering on Wednesday.

Speaking in the International Conference on Infrastructure, or ICI, that is being held in Jakarta by the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, officials said that infrastructure today is no longer a national concern but a cross-border one.

"We believe that infrastructure … is part of a broader global compact that advances climate resilience, equity and peaceful cooperation," said Agus H. Yudhoyono, coordinating minister for infrastructure and regional development during his speech to open the two-day forum.

With about 5,000 participants and speakers from Indonesia and other nations in attendance, the forum is the largest gathering on infrastructure and the first of its kind to be held by the eight-month old administration of President Prabowo Subianto.

"We invite you to work with us and to build systems that are not only strong but also just, not only resilient but also regenerative, not only modern but also meaningful," Yudhoyono told participants, including government officials, representatives of local and international organizations, and business company representatives.

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo said strengthening infrastructure for Indonesia meant rethinking its approach, from capacity to resilience, from scale to purpose, and from short-term delivery to long-term sustainability.

"And we all know that no country can do this alone. We strongly believe in partnership, in government institutions, the private sectors and development sectors," Hanggodo said.

After being started by then president Joko Wododo, Prabowo's predecessor, the current administration is pushing ahead with infrastructure development priorities, including infrastructure for food and water security, clean energy infrastructure, equitable connectivity, livable and resilient cities, and financing reform for sustainable infrastructure.

Chinese investors are involved in numerous infrastructure projects in Indonesia, with the Jakarta-Bandung fast train the most notable among them. Starting its commercial operation almost two years ago, the "WHOOSH" high-speed railway was the first of its kind in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia and is attracting more and more passengers.

In their speeches, Yudhoyono and Hanggodo made special mention of the condition of areas in northern Java, which is home to more than half of Indonesia's total population and where land is subsiding and the sea level rising, threatening the lives of millions of people.

Seawater intrusion has not only inundated rice fields in many parts of northern Java but also affected fresh ground water.

Java is Indonesia's largest rice producer.

The ministers said the Prabowo's government is designing a program for building a giant sea wall along the 1,600-kilometer north coast of Java.

Yudhoyono, who is the eldest son of former president Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said in April Chinese investors had expressed interest in the giant sea wall program.

"We are continuing to communicate with all parties who have expressed interest (in the program)," the minister told reporters.

President Prabowo held a limited Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to discuss the giant sea wall program.

Yudhoyono said his office will thoroughly analyze all studies conducted by different parties on the condition of northern Java and the giant sea wall.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.