Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The German government has stated that it is ready to provide funds amounting to 2.5 billion euros (some 2.9 billion U.S. dollars) to support green infrastructure development in Indonesia under a cooperation scheme aimed at reducing carbon emissions in cities.

The cooperation was virtually launched by the German and Indonesian governments on Thursday (March 4), the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin said in a written statement released Friday (March 5).

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that Indonesia and Germany are members of the G20 that have implemented a shared responsibility model in current significant global issues, particularly that on climate change, through the Indonesia-Germany Initiative for Green Infrastructure.

Through that cooperation scheme, Germany will provide funds of 2.5 billion euros for five years through a partnership with the National Bank of Germany (KfW).

"In the future, we can see cleaner rivers, shrinking marine debris, wider access to clean water, and more effective and better modes of public transportation," said Luhut.

Apart from funding, the cooperation will also be realized through technology transfer and campaigns to increase public awareness.

In addition to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa, Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno, as well as German Federal Minister of Economy and Development Gerd Muller and German Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Schoof also attended the launch of the collaboration.

Reporting by Indonesia Window