Enviro News Asia, Palangka Raya — The Palangka Raya City Government in Central Kalimantan has partnered with South Korea’s National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT) to strengthen urban waste management and environmental protection efforts.
Mayor of Palangka Raya Fairid Naparin stated that the city government fully supports initiatives aimed at environmental preservation and improved waste management that contribute to public welfare. He conveyed the statement during a meeting with representatives of NIGT in Palangka Raya.
The cooperation began with a preliminary discussion session focused on aligning perspectives and deepening mutual understanding of the proposed collaboration. The meeting marked an initial step toward establishing a long-term partnership to address environmental and social challenges in the city.
As part of the meeting, the Palangka Raya City Government and NIGT signed a Letter of Intent (LoI), demonstrating both parties’ commitment to implementing an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management (IMSWM) program.
The main agenda included the presentation of policy directions for a feasibility study on IMSWM. The study aims to identify technical cooperation opportunities between South Korea and Palangka Raya in developing sustainable urban waste management systems.
Mayor Fairid noted that although only around 1.9 percent of waste in Palangka Raya remains unmanaged, the city’s vast geographical area presents unique challenges. As one of the largest cities by area in Indonesia, Palangka Raya requires specialized approaches, adequate infrastructure, and appropriate technology to ensure public services reach all areas.
He emphasized that the success of the program depends heavily on strong leadership commitment and effective coordination among local government agencies. In addition to technical aspects, the city government will focus on strengthening regulations and enhancing human resource capacity.
The Palangka Raya City Government has committed to establishing a solid legal framework to ensure program sustainability through robust local regulations. All municipal agencies are expected to actively participate in waste governance and to position environmental management as a means to improve community welfare. (*)
