Indonesia-Ecuador Sign Disaster Risk Management Cooperation

Signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on disaster management cooperation between Indonesia and Ecuador. (ANTARA/HO-KBRI Quito)

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Ecuador have collaborated on disaster risk management through an agreement signed by the Head of BNPB RI Suharyanto and Head of Ecuador's SNGRE Christian Torres. diplomacy in the Indonesian Embassy's efforts to expand and deepen the scope of the dimensions of bilateral cooperation," said the Indonesian Ambassador to Ecuador Agung Kurniadi in a written statement quoted by Antara, Saturday, May 28.

The signing was carried out on the sidelines of the 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction meeting at the United Nations Office for Disaster Management in Bali on Friday (27/5).

Both parties agreed to exchange knowledge and knowledge in the field of disaster management and preparedness, as well as to improve the capacity of human resources through joint training and classes.

The Ambassador explained that Indonesia and Ecuador have long wanted to have a cooperation agreement. Since 2018, the draft agreement text has been discussed by the two disaster management agencies.

However, the process was delayed, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because both agencies played a central role in overcoming the pandemic outbreak in their respective countries.

As two countries in the Pacific fire belt, Indonesia and Ecuador are blessed with areas that are fertile for agriculture and rich in natural resources, but both are among the most disaster-prone countries in the world.

"Therefore, with this collaboration, both parties can share information and their best experiences in dealing with disasters," said the Ambassador.

Prior to the signing of the MoU, the two delegations held a meeting and exchanged views on the importance of disaster management, which if not careful, could result in economic losses and hamper socio-economic development.