Indonesiantalk.com — K-Water, South Korean State-Owned Enterprise, Visits BPODT and Tangsel Mayor’s Office to Explore Clean Water Investment Opportunities
The Lake Toba Authority (Badan Pelaksana Otorita Danau Toba, BPODT) recently welcomed a delegation of CEOs from Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water), a South Korean state-owned enterprise, from July 16-18, 2024.
This visit marks the beginning of K-Water’s ambitious plan to become a strategic partner in various water infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including the development of water management infrastructure in the Lake Toba region.
Jimmy Panjaitan, the CEO of BPODT, warmly welcomed the K-Water CEOs, stating that this collaboration is a crucial part of the efforts towards a sustainable future in water management infrastructure in Indonesia.
“Strengthening cooperation through the exchange of knowledge and technology, human resource capacity building, and the development of collaborative projects in this field is very important,” said Jimmy Panjaitan.
He added that the collaboration with K-Water will focus on exchanging knowledge and experience in global water management. This initiative also aligns with the National Economic Recovery Program being promoted by the government.
Jimmy Panjaitan mentioned that if this effort is successful, the North Sumatra government plans to announce that all electricity supply for Lake Toba will come from clean energy sources.
“This clean energy label will not only enhance the tourism appeal of Lake Toba but also strengthen the environmental sustainability and image of this destination,” he said.
“The potential of Lake Toba as a tourism magnet continues to attract attention, with hopes that collaboration between the government, investors, and local communities will bring significant positive transformation to the region.
With the steps being taken, the bright future of Lake Toba as a premier tourism destination is becoming increasingly apparent. Utilizing zero-carbon technology is one effort to support the government’s Green Transition Initiatives Platform.
The delegation from Korean Water Resources Corporation reaffirmed K-Water’s commitment to being a business partner in various water infrastructure development projects in Indonesia.
“K-Water also hopes to support the development of waterworks in Indonesia,” said a representative from K-Water. The K-Water delegation included Park Se Won, Head of the Indonesian Representative Office, Ismeth Wibowo, Independent Advisor, and Ahmed Kurnia, CEO of PT Aksara Investama Nusantara.
From BPODT, attendees included CEO Jimmy Bernando Panjaitan, Director of Tourism Destinations Fritz Rudolph Nababan, Head of Division Nelson Lumbantorium, Malida Girsang, Serbi Putri, and Siswanto Sinambela.
BPODT is a public service agency designed as a special institution to accelerate the development of Lake Toba as one of Indonesia’s priority tourism destinations. BPODT is a working unit under the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and also coordinates with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment.
The meeting was held at the BPODT office in Toba Caldera Resort on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. BPODT CEO Jimmy Panjaitan, through Tourism Destinations Director Fritz Nababan, welcomed K-Water’s working visit in the BPODT office meeting room.
In his remarks, Fritz Nababan expressed gratitude for the visit made by K-Water. During the meeting, several materials on investment potential and opportunities at Toba Caldera Resort and several lots in the South Ridge and Central Village areas were presented.
The K-Water leadership in Indonesia was interested in the Lake Toba view and expressed a desire to invest, intending to convey this investment potential to K-Water’s CEO in Seoul.
BPODT leaders also aim to attract South Korean tourists to Lake Toba and its surroundings.
Attendees included Malida Girsang, Head of Accessibility and Infrastructure Division, Siswanto Sinambela, Head of Amenities and Tourism Attractions Division, Nelson Lumbantoruan, Head of Public Communication Division, Serbi Putri Intaniwati, Investment Support Personnel, and several staff members.
The visit also included a tour of Pertamina Patra Jasa’s golf course and Samosir Island.
This visit aligns with the government’s commitment to restoring the splendor of Lake Toba’s tourism to its peak.
To support this vision, the government is actively building the necessary infrastructure to make Lake Toba a world-class tourism destination.
In addition to attracting investors, this meeting is part of the process of accelerating the development of the Lake Toba tourism sector, which is expected to have a significant positive impact on the local economy and the welfare of the surrounding community.
On Friday, July 19, 2024, the K-Water delegation, represented by Park Se Won and Ismeth Wibowo, also visited the office of the Mayor of South Tangerang (Tangsel) to explore investment opportunities in the clean water sector.
The meeting was attended by Tangsel Regional Secretary Heru Agus Santoso, Special Staff to the Mayor of Tangsel Andi, and other staff member.
