Netherlands Offers Cooperation in Water Management to Indonesia

By Amie Fenia Arimbi Jakarta (Antara) - The Dutch Government has offered cooperation in water management to Indonesia in order to assist the country in handling flood during rainy season, visiting Foreign Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans said here on Thursday after meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Minister Marty Natalegawa. "The Netherlands has an experience in water management sector. We will be partner with Indonesia not only in the business of water management but also in international discussion on how to tackle flood problem while at the same time continuously develop our nation and provide better living for our people," said the minister. Indonesia during rainy season this year sees some of its areas inundated by floods, even in the capital city Jakarta. Climate change, rapid urban development and mismanagement of the cities are often named as the cause of the floods. Flood and landslides that hit Manado city, North Sulawesi, last Sunday (Feb 17) caused 17 casualties and forced hundreds of people to evacuate themselves to safer place. Meanwhile though not taking casualties, floods that have hit some areas in Jambi Province repeatedly since January 2013 is estimated to cause trillions of rupiah of material losses to the people. Meanwhile Marty Natalegawa said apart from cooperation in water management, Indonesia and the Netherlands also plan to improve ties in trade, investment and people to people contact. "We are looking forward to develop cooperation to the next level," he said. (*)