News
South Sumatra and VWSA Signs MoU on Drinking Water Supply
WINDONESIA June 25, 2024
South Sumatra Acting Governor Agus Fatoni at the ceremonial signing of the MoU between South Sumatra and VWSA on Jun. 22, 2024. (Investor Daily).
The South Sumatra Provincial Government is collaborating with the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA) for their drinking water industries.
This collaboration was marked by the signing of a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) between South Sumatra Acting Governor Agus Fatoni and VWSA Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Diep at Griya Agung in Palembang City, South Sumatra on Jun. 22, 2024.
"On behalf of the South Sumatra Provincial Government, we welcome VWSA to Palembang, South Sumatra Province as the Vietnamese Government's representatives. We are welcoming the VWSA's delegation arrival in response to the South Sumatra Provincial Government to Vietnam from Mar. 7 to 10, 2024," Fatoni stated.
Aside from facilitating discussion between the South Sumatra provincial government and VWSA, the meeting between VWSA and the South Sumatra Provincial Government is also expected to improve the cooperation that has existed so far between Indonesia and Vietnam. One such cooperation is for the clean water supply industries of both countries.
"These are guests from drinking water organizations in Vietnam. So their arrival is to collaborate with South Sumatra in the field of drinking water management," Fatoni said.
Furthermore, Fatoni revealed that the VWSA delegation would visit the clean water utility site at one of South Sumatra's province-owned enterprise, namely Tirta Sriwijaya Mandiri.
"TSM is a company owned by the South Sumatra Provincial Government which operates in the regional drinking water supply industry," said Fatoni.
He also hopes that there will be a follow-up meeting between the VWSA and the South Sumatra Provincial Government to discuss various opportunities for the private sector to invest, collaborate, and mutually strengthen the drinking water industry of South Sumatra and Vietnam.
"We know that drinking water companies in Vietnam are very advanced with a 0.5 percent leakage rate, while the average rate for ours is still at 30 percent. Vietnam's national coverage has reached 70 percent, while ours is still at 30 percent. This cooperation will be done in the fields of human resources, technology, and its governance. Hopefully this [collaboration] will be useful and have a positive impact," Fatoni explained .
At the same occasion, VWSA Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Diep said that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Vietnam has been very good from year to year. He acknowledged that Indonesia is one of the strongest countries in Southeast Asia, and is even a member of the Group of Twenty (G20) with a stronger economy than Vietnam.
"We (VWSA) thank you for being well received in South Sumatra. We already know that Vietnam and Indonesia have had good cooperation so far," he said.
"Many Indonesian investors have long invested in Vietnam, and vice versa with many investors from Vietnam having invested to Indonesia in the fields of technology and agriculture. Even the water industry has great potential for both countries," he added.
Source: investor.id