The Netherlands to help city mature
The Netherlands to help city mature
JAKARTA (JP): The Netherlands Ministry of Housing, City
Planning and the Environment and the Jakarta administration are
to launch a joint program to enhance Jakarta's development, an
official said yesterday.
"We have talked to Indonesia's minister of environment and the
minister of public works, as well as the municipality, to discuss
the city's development. We also want to see the Jakarta Bay
reclamation project," PJJ Maessen, a spokesman for the
Netherlands ministry, told The Jakarta Post after meeting with
Governor Sutiyoso at City Hall.
An ad hoc committee will be formed to coordinate the efforts
of Dutch and Indonesian experts who are expected to come up with
strategies for developing the capital.
"We will have a training session for Jakarta officials who are
involved in city development projects," Maessen said.
The Netherlands Minister of Housing, City Planning and the
Environment, Margreeth de Boer, told the Post a handbook on the
city's development plans is to be prepared by the experts.
"The book will contain every aspect of development, ranging
from planning to the environmental impacts to be considered," she
said.
"Basically in Jakarta we have three big issues to deal with:
the low-cost housing, the river pollution and the flood danger
during the rainy season.
"Indonesia and the Netherlands share similar problems, such as
the rise of the sea level and the land-sinking problem. I think
what we have done in the Netherlands to cope with such problems
can be implemented here."
Sutiyoso told the Post that the cooperation was in line with
the municipality's program to clean up the riverbanks and create
a better housing environment for the city's 9.5 million people.
"The revitalization of Sunda Kelapa Port, the reclamation
project and the renovation of Jakarta's old city are crucial for
Jakarta," he said. "I think this cooperation will make it
possible for Jakarta to have better city planning in the future."
Sutiyoso also briefed his Dutch guests about the
municipality's programs on regreening, cleaning up rivers and
tourist developments in Jakarta.
Among the guests of honor attending the meeting were: the
ambassador of the Netherlands, P.R. Brouwer; the Netherlands
Deputy Director for International Environment Affairs Van Ziijst;
the head of the city's environmental bureau Aboejoewono
Aboeprajitno and other high-ranking officials. (07)