Government Launches Full-Scale New Southern and New Northern International Development Cooperation to Solve Water and Sewage Issues

Ministry of Environment and Indonesian Public Housing Department Hold Kick-off Meeting for 'Flores Island Water Management System Advancement Pilot Project'

Pilot project site for the water management system on Flores Island, Indonesia.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 16th that it held a kickoff meeting via video conference with the Indonesian Public Housing Business Department for the 'Flores Island Water Management System Advancement Pilot Project' and will actively promote the New Southern and New Northern international development cooperation projects (ODA). From 2020 to 2022, the Ministry plans to invest 3 billion KRW over three years to establish a detailed plan for hydrological data monitoring and install automated hydrological observation equipment.

The New Southern and New Northern international development cooperation projects are Korean-style smart water management technology cooperation initiatives aimed at acquiring stable water resource information in response to climate change, strengthening disaster response capabilities such as flood management, and solving water supply and sewage problems in developing countries.

The Ministry of Environment, together with its affiliated agency Korea Water Resources Corporation and the United Nations, is currently implementing six water-related international development cooperation projects worth 20 billion KRW (approximately 5.4 billion KRW in 2021) targeting New Southern and New Northern countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan, covering water supply and sewage as well as water disasters.

First, to address drinking water issues in developing countries such as Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Cambodia, the plan includes replacing and repairing aging water supply and sewage systems and reducing leakage and improving water use efficiency through real-time remote management based on information and communication technology (ICT).

For water disaster prevention, flood risk assessments and early warning systems will be developed targeting Indonesia and cities in the Mekong River basin (including Cambodia), along with efforts to strengthen water resource information management capabilities.

The Ministry of Environment plans to expand such water sector international development cooperation projects to support sustainable development in developing countries and secure opportunities for participation by Korean companies in various water-related projects.

Kim Dong-jin, Director of the Water Resources Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, said, "The Korean-style water-related international development cooperation projects, based on Korea's excellent water management technology and experience, will contribute to solving water issues in the New Southern and New Northern regions with high development potential and serve as an opportunity to expand the overseas advancement of domestic water companies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.