JAKARTA, ROTTERDAM SIGN SISTER-CITY COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Jakarta, June 12 (ANTARA) - Jakarta and the Dutch city of Rotterdam have concluded a sister-city cooperation agreement covering, among other things, information technology, water and museum management.
The two-year agreement was signed by Rotterdam Mayor Ivo Opstelten and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo at City Hall on Thursday, witnessed by Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Martin Dukker and Jakarta Legislative Assembly Chairman Ade Surapriatna.
In his address on the occasion, Opstelten said Rotterdam was ready to help Jakarta solve various problems, including floods.
"Jakarta and Rotterdam share the same problem. Both are situated in an area lying below sea level. We will share our knowledge about flood handling," he said.
Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo hailed Rotterdam's readiness to help handle the Indonesian capital's flood problem. He said Rotterdam had proven its ability in controlling floods.
The cooperation would be started in September when Rotterdam would send five water management experts to Jakarta to find the most effective way of controlling Jakarta's floods.
"We have a lot of experience in water management and we will share it with Jakarta," Opstelten said.
Fauzi Bowo said Jakarta had to learn from Rotterdam's experience in handling floods as both cities had the same problem.
"The Dutch city is also situated below sea level but why does it never experience floods? It is because it has a good water management system," the Jakarta governor said.
He said actually Jakarta already had a good flood management plan but its implementation was still facing constraints.
The plan provided for the construction of the East Flood Canal (BKT) which was scheduled for completion in 2009, he said.
"However, we should not only build the BKT but also reservoirs, for example, in East Sunter, Cakung and North Sunter. The reservoirs should be an integral part of the flood control system," Fauzi Bowo said.