News
27 June 2025From 15 to 19 June 2025, over 100 Dutch organisations travelled to Jakarta and Semarang as part of the Netherlands economic mission to Indonesia. Among them: 35 water professionals from businesses, knowledge institutions and government, participating in the water track coordinated by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta and the Netherlands Water Partnership. Their goal: deepen collaboration, identify opportunities, and co-create solutions to Indonesia’s pressing water challenges.
From Jakarta to Semarang, the programme focused on themes such as:
Indonesia – a rapidly growing middle-income country with over 270 million people – offers clear opportunities for collaboration. The Netherlands is its largest European investor, with €7 billion in bilateral trade. But beyond economics, the partnership is rooted in a shared struggle with water: land subsidence, rising sea levels, urban water stress and water pollution.
In North Java, land is sinking by up to 20 cm per year. Clean water access remains limited, and coastal zones are under threat. At the same time, Indonesia is investing in infrastructure, exploring nature-based solutions, and preparing for climate resilience. This mission connected Dutch expertise with local ambition.
The mission kicked off with a plenary session featuring high-level keynote speeches from both countries, addressed to all participants. Speakers included the Dutch Vice Minister for Foreign Economic Relations and the Indonesian Minister for Economic Affairs. This was followed by a dedicated water track programme
"We must act together to address water challenges that cross borders," Ms. Marsudi emphasised, echoing the collaborative spirit that defined the week.
Mr. Irfan Saleh, Director of Water Resources at BAPPENAS, outlined Indonesia’s priorities, setting the scene for three panel sessions:
The roundtables drew strong interest. Highlights included:
Throughout the week, Dutch participants engaged in matchmaking, seminars, company visits and networking events. These moments offered insight into policy frameworks, regulatory changes, and funding mechanisms shaping Indonesia’s water future.
Social media posts – especially by Wavemakers United – underlined the value of intergenerational exchange. A key milestone was the signing of an MoU between IPB University and Wavemakers, focused on long-term talent development.
A key outcome of the mission was the formalisation of several partnerships:
The last MoU formalises a strategic partnership between Royal Eijkelkamp and PT Alkatec Mandiri Kencana, appointing Alkatec as exclusive sales and service partner in Indonesia. It supports Indonesia’s renewable energy and climate goals, and strengthens local access to Royal Eijkelkamp’s expertise in water, soil, and environmental monitoring.
“This mission helped us strengthen our presence and showcase our coastal and water technology in Indonesia,” said Jasper Leuven (Haskoning). “It was a valuable platform for building new connections.”
''It was a pleasure to take part in the recent trade mission to Indonesia. The trip offered valuable insight into the country’s urgent water challenges. What made it truly remarkable was the combined expertise of the participants together, we brought over 500 years of experience in the water sector. This mission reaffirmed an important truth: we can only tackle Indonesia’s emerging water issues through collaboration. It’s not just a strategy, it’s a necessity. We must continue to work across borders and disciplines to deliver sustainable, impactful solutions for the Indonesian people. Beyond the technical takeaways, the mission also revealed exciting business opportunities. From strategic partnerships to pilot projects and long-term investments, Indonesia offers a dynamic environment for innovation in water management. The connections made and the shared commitment to progress form a strong basis for future collaboration and growth'', said Rasoul D. Mikkelsen (Royal Eijkelkamp).
Fugro underlined the critical role of geo-data in informed water decision-making.
Netherlands Water Envoy Meike van Ginneken emphasised the need to address root causes such as excessive groundwater extraction and poor water quality. “From nature-based coastal protection to clean water access, the Netherlands is ready to co-create with Indonesia,” she concluded. “But real change happens when water users, polluters, and taxpayers help drive solutions and unlock the investments we need.”
Let’s keep building a water-resilient future together.
The mission was made possible by RVO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, and VNO-NCW. NWP coordinated the programme together with partners.
Featured NWP members: Witteveen + Bos , Deltares, Fugro, LG Sonic, NX Filtration, One Architecture, Paques, Rijkswaterstaat, Royal Eijkelkamp, Haskoning, SNV, Van Oord, VEI B.V., Water Footprint Implementation, Wetlands International