Germany Allocates 2.5 Billion Euros for Green Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia

KOMPAS.com – Germany has allocated 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) to support the development of green infrastructure projects in Indonesia’s urban areas, a statement from the Embassy of Indonesia in Berlin said on Friday, March 5.

The fund will be distributed over five years under the Indonesian-German Infrastructure Initiative that both countries have agreed on.

The initiative, which aims to reduce carbon emissions in Indonesian cities, was launched virtually on Thursday, March 4.

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Present during the event were Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Gerd Mueller.

Also in attendance were Minister of National Development Planning/Chief of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno, and German Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Schoof.

In his speech, Luhut said that as part of the G20 members, Indonesia and Germany have shared responsibility to address important global issues, especially climate change.

“In my capacity as the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, I would like to convince all parties here that the initiative will achieve its target. Our intentions to improve the environment, reduce carbon emissions, and provide better service facilities for the public are visible,” Luhut said.

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“In the future, we will be able to see cleaner rivers, declining marine debris, wider access to clean water, and more effective and better public transportation facilities,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister Mueller said that Germany was impressed with the strategy and targets set by Indonesia to reduce sea litter by 70 percent in 2025. Besides, Indonesia put its efforts to provide the sanitation management program, clean water supply, and to improve public transportation systems that are more effective and environmentally friendly.

Still in the same event, Ambassador Oegroseno said that the initiative reflects a concrete example of how both nations collaborate to tackle the issues of climate change.

He expressed hope that the steps taken by the German government will be followed by other European countries and the EU in general.

"As Indonesia adheres to a free and active foreign policy, this cooperation reaffirms that Indonesia is open to cooperation and fund assistance from various parties,“ the Indonesian envoy said.