Vivian Balakrishnan to attend meetings on haze, environmental issues in Bali

SINGAPORE : Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, will be going to Bali in Indonesia to attend meetings on the haze and environmental issues.

The meetings will be held from October 30 to 31.

Dr Balakrishnan will meet his counterparts from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand at the Sub—Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze.

They will review and enhance measures to monitor, prevent and mitigate land and forest fires in the southern ASEAN region.

As the current Chair of the steering committee, Singapore will work with members to develop various initiatives to enhance fire detection and prevention, to tackle the transboundary haze problem.

The Indonesia—Singapore Environmental Partnership Ministerial Meeting will see both countries exchange information and review the progress of collaborations on issues of mutual interest, which include transboundary haze, river water management, waste management and climate change.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the ministers from both countries to develop closer ties and explore various opportunities for deeper environmental engagement.

Dr Balakrishnan will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the National Environment Agency.

— CNA/ms