The cooperation is related to providing clean water to 60,000 people in urban areas by strengthening seven PDAMs in West Java and Central Java.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Swiss government will be training nearly 600 employees of seven selected tap water companies (PDAMs) in West and Central Java in water management, energy efficiency, service quality and performance. The PDAM staff will receive training in developing human resource capacity and companies, Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Kurt Kunz said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The training was part of the collaboration agreed between the United States (USAID), Switzerland through SECO (Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs), and the Government of Indonesia.

The cooperation is related to providing clean water to the people in urban areas by strengthening seven PDAMs in West Java and Central Java.

Seven PDAM directors from Karawang District, Depok City, Bogor District, Surakarta City, Sukoharjo District, Magelang District, and Magelang City were present.

Through the agreement, the Swiss Government expanded the water and sanitation program initiative being implemented by the US Government through USAID, by contributing US$4.5 million.

There is no doubting Switzerland's ability in water management since the country has often been dubbed a water castle in Europe because of its water management, Kurt said.

The training also included steps to save energy, especially considering the fact that 30 percent of PDAM’s operational budget had gone towards paying their electricity costs, he said.

With the training, Kurt expects energy consumption of PDAMs to be more efficient, even reduced to 15 percent thereby saving operational costs in the long term.

Meanwhile, Minister of National Development Planning (PPN) Bappenas Bambang Brodjonegoro appreciated the cooperation in increasing the capacity of the PDAM.

"We thank and extend our appreciation to the US and Switzerland. The PDAM needs to be improved, not only in terms of equipment and physical facility but also human resource capacity," he said.

Translator: Zuhdiar Laesis/ Eliswan Azly
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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