NARBO Symposium
on Catalyzing IWRM Investment in Asia-Pacific Region

“NARBO Symposium on Catalyzing IWRM investment in Asia-Pacific Region,” held on 1 Dec (Beppu City Social Welfare Center, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan) as the Open Event for the Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS, 3-4 Dec, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan), was successfully completed. This symposium, attended by more than 100 audiences from 11 countries, was organized by Japan Water Agency, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ADB Institute as NARBO Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and the Infrastructure Development Institute of Japan.

Opening remarks were delivered by 2 persons; one is Dr. Basuki Hadimuljono, NARBO Chairperson, and the other is Mr. Shuhei Kazusa, Director General, Water Resources Department, Land and Water Bureau, MLIT. Followed by, 2 persons delivered keynote speeches as follows;

• "Japan's Experiences in Water Resources Management and Some Implications to NARBO Members" (Keynote 1), by Dr. Tsuneaki Yoshida, Professor, University of Tokyo, and
• "Financing IWRM in River Basins - Challenges and Opportunities" (Keynote 2), by Mr. Wouter L. Arriens, Lead Water Specialist, ADB

After that, panel discussion session was held, led by Dr. Tsuneaki Yoshida. In the session, 5 presentations on the situation on the problems of water resources in each country were made by the following speakers;

• Mr. Md. Abdul Hye, Executive Engineer and Chief Staff Officer (CSO), Bangladesh Water Development Board (Presentation 1),
• Mr. Tjoek W. Subijanto, President Director of Jasa Tirta I Public Corporation, Indonesia (Presentation 2),
• Mr. Jorge Marlang Estioko, Chief Water resources development Officer, the National Water Resources Board, the Philippines (Presentation 3),
• Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Deputy Chief of Viet Nam RBO General Office's Secretariat Board, Viet Nam (Presentation 4),
• Dr. Takeyoshi Sadahiro, Professor and council for International Affairs Division of Japan Water Agency (Presentation 5),

Finally, plenary discussion was held, and after that, we adopted the Recommendation on the direction for the future NARBO activity on the basis of the discussion by the audiences.

The adopted recommendation was also distributed for the high-level attendants of the APWS. It is expected to contribute to make NARBO's presence and activities known for more people.