TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Japan is interested to be involved in the rehabilitation of Citarum watershed, West Java. It was stated by the special emissary of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Toshihiro Nikai, when he met President Joko Widodo or Jokowi at the Presidential Palace Complex, Bogor.
"The Environment Deputy Minister will observe the Citarum River in order to see what kind of initial cooperation can be done," said Retno at Bogor Palace, on January 19.
Read: Jokowi Signals Total Restoration of Citarum River in 2018
The Citarum watershed rehabilitation is one of the programs crafted by President Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. During the work visit to Bandung, West Java, Jokowi held a limited cabinet meeting to discuss the continuation of the Citarum watershed rehabilitation.
In the meeting, Jokowi expected ministries and the local government must have an understanding in relation to Citarum watershed rehabilitation. If the program is to be realized, Jokowi expects the Citarum rehabilitation will be completed in seven years.
Jokowi revealed that every related ministry and institution has the budget for the Citarum rehabilitation program, However, Jokowi admitted that the institutions still run their programs separately. In this project, Jokowi went on, the government would also invite private sectors and foreign investors.
AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI
