Experts exchange on sustainable solutions to increasing water scarcity in the Arab world

Under the umbrella of German Water Partnership (GWP), the German water industry once again presented itself successfully from 3rd to 5th March 2019 at the 5th Arab Water Week on the Dead Sea in Jordan. In line with 60 years of German-Jordanian development cooperation, the partnership of GWP and the Arab Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) is celebrating its tenth anniversary with the joint organization of the event.

Following the solemn opening of the Sunday morning conference and exhibition in the presence of Jordanian Minister of Water Raed Abu Al-Saud, numerous sessions and panel discussions revolved around the motto “Towards Sustainable Development in Water and Sanitation”. The focus was on the region’s major challenges: optimal management and protection of scarce water resources, know-how transfer and strategic planning in the water sector. The ten GWP member companies represented contributed their expertise in seven panels through specialist lectures and presented practical solutions for tackling water management challenges in the region. The State Secretary in the Jordanian Ministry of Water, Ali Subah, visited GWP’s stand during the specialist exhibition and acknowledged the strong presence of the German water industry.

A networking dinner at the end of the first day of the conference offered an opportunity for intensive exchange between the approximately 500 participants from various countries and regions. “Water associations are important multipliers and can help to promote the exchange of knowledge and thereby promote the necessary changes in dealing with the valuable resource of water. The support of associations such as ACWUA in their work is therefore very important to us and we are proud of the close cooperation of the last 10 years,” GWP Managing Director Julia Braune emphasized in her speech.