Obama May Visit Central Jakarta Development Project During Indonesia Stay

Jakarta Globe, Matthew Theunissen, January 28, 2010

A Central Jakarta community development project is being touted as a potential stop for US President Barack Obama during his planned visit to Indonesia this year.

The project in North Petojo’s RW 08 neighborhood, which receives funding from USAID, was host to a raft of high-profile officials on Wednesday, including Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono and Pradeep Ramamurthy, the United States National Security Council senior director for global engagement.

Senior USAID workers said it was likely that the White House officials had visited the site to assess its suitability as a place for President Obama to visit, though Ramamurthy would not confirm whether this was the case.

Ramamurthy said the project was an exemplary one and illustrated how the United States’ aid money could be spent effectively in Indonesia.

“I enjoy seeing how we are working in poor Indonesian neighborhoods and it is important to see how our work is affecting people in these communities,” he said.

What he saw at the site had been “very encouraging”, he added.

The neighborhood is inhabited by 3,321 people, one third of whom live below the poverty line.

USAID and community partners began working on the project in 2006 and have been involved in developing environmental, maternal and child health, sanitation, clean water and waste management programs.

One of program’s successes is a public sanitation facility now being used by 50 percent of residents, which consists of a biodigester to process feces and produce methane gas suitable for cooking fuel.

The development project, which is located near the US Embassy, was visited by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in February 2009.