Good infrastructure development and good urban governance must follow the annual population shift."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia's Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has said urbanization must be balanced with infrastructure development and good governance.
"Explosion in urbanization can have a bad impact if it is not managed well. Every year, 50 percent of village population migrates to urban areas," the minister said while opening the Sixth Asia Pacific Urban Forum (APUF6) here on Monday.
He reminded that the poverty rate in cities would increase if urbanization was not managed properly.
In the Asia Pacific region, there are still urban areas which face floods and environmental problems, the minister pointed out.
"Good infrastructure development and good urban governance must follow the annual population shift," Hadimuljono noted.
The number of people living in urban areas continues to increase every year. Based on data in the Revision of World Urbanization Prospects in 2014, some 54 percent people live in urban regions. The percentage will increase to 66 percent by 2050.
Indonesia is hosting three urban issues related meetings: the Asia Pacific Urban Forum Youth (APUFY), the Asia Pacific Urban Forum 6 (APUF 6), and a Ministerial Meeting or a High Level Regional Meeting (HLRM).
The APUFY was held in Jakarta on October 17-18 October, APUF 6 is being held on October 19-21, and the HLRM on October 21-22, 2015.
The APUF 6 carries the theme, "Sustainable Development of Urban Areas in Asia Pacific: Toward New Urban Agenda."
The result of the APUF-6 will be reported to the HLRM as an input towards the Habitat III event in Asia Pacific region.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
