TechnoParkTechnoPark-hosts five-day global event to address one of the most critical issues facing the Middle East region

Salma Hareb launches the Excellence Centre for Integrated Water Management

Dubai, November 7, 2009: His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, today (Saturday November 7, 2009) officially opened the International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress 2009 on Desalination and Water Reuse at Madinat Jumeirah.

Federal ministers and senior government officials from the UAE including His Excellency Mohammed Bin Dha'en Al Hameli, Minister of Energy; His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, Minister of Environment & Water as well as from other GCC countries attended the inaugural ceremony along with corporate leaders and global industry experts from across the world.

The grand opening session witnessed Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presenting the IDA World Water Masters Award to Dr. Farouk Al Baz, Research Professor and Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University for his extensive research and significant work in groundwater storage and recovery.

The opening ceremony featured the launch the Excellence Centre for Integrated Water Management, a world-class initiative to undertake applied research in Water Cycles, sustainable solutions for the ecosystem and the proper use of water resources.

Salma Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World, said: "In collaboration with our partners, this world class R&D centre is dedicated to water issues. Its objectives include research in qualitative and quantitative water management, adequacy of water for human use, and planning for water sustainability.

Highlighting the significance of hosting this world congress in Dubai, she said: "The IDA World Congress will provide a new thrust to the research and development efforts in the region to

achieve long-tern sustainability in water desalination, supply and management. TechnoParkTechnoPark, and Economic Zones WorldEconomic Zones World as its parent organisation, see the hosting of the Congress for the first time here as an expression of our deep rooted commitment to this region's development. We are proud to be supporting this event, which addresses one of the most critical problems the region faces."

Speaking at the ceremony, His Excellency Mohammed Bin Dha'en Al Hameli, UAE Minister of Energy, said: "Despite the advances that have been achieved in water desalination internationally and regionally, the world water situation is worsening due to the inadequate availability of clean water, population increases, wastage and bad practices in water usage. All these factors which are relevant at international, regional and local levels, paint a frightening scenario of people competing for insufficient sources of water with all the attendant ramifications of that struggle.

"Today, here in this Conference in which we are discussing the looming water problem, and in front of this gathering, most if not all of whom, are the decision makers in this area and from this platform, we should declare that it has become incumbent upon us all to take a serious stand and to keep doing all we can; governments, private organizations, and individuals alike to conserve water irrespective of its source including desalinated water, through encouraging research and scientific experimentation to develop new designs for desalination plants which are cost effective, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly so that we can achieve desalination for a better world."

The UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Dr. Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, highlighted the strain on the already-scare water resources caused by nature and development. He noted that there were more than 30 desalination plants operating in the country with a capacity of 1.3 billion cubic metres a year, which meet 98% of the household and industrial water demand.

"Nevertheless, the demand for water remains high. Future projections indicate that demand will rise from 5 billion cubic metres to 7 billion cubic metres in 2020. In light of these forecasts, the Ministry of Environment and Water, in cooperation with its strategic partners, is currently working to develop strategies to maintain water resources and manage the demand to ensure sustainability," he said.

"Despite the advances in water desalination, the industry still faces technical, economic, and environmental challenges, especially from the effects of rising temperatures. In order to mitigate climate change, the UAE has adopted the option of using nuclear and renewable energy in desalination processes," he added.

Lisa Henthorne said: "The theme of our Congress is meant to capture our hope for the future and the vision we want to inspire in our industry. Desalination and water reuse offer our growing population what nothing else can - an abundant source of fresh water through which our health can be maintained, our economies can prosper, our standard of living can be enhanced, and water can be recycled repeatedly, thereby minimizing our environmental footprint on our planet."

Among the other noted speakers at the opening session were His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, Minister of Environment & Water, UAE; His Excellency Abdullah Al Hussayen, Minister of Water and Electricity, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of Water and Environment, Singapore; His Excellency Eng Fahmi Al Jowder, Minister of Electricity and Water, Kingdom of Bahrain; Lisa Henthorne, President of IDA. The key note address was delivered by David H. Koch, co-owner and Executive Vice President of Koch Industries, Inc. and President of Koch Membrane Systems.

The IDA World Congress, the premier global event for the desalination industry and the biggest conference of its kind the region hosted by TechnoParkTechnoPark, is themed on 'Desalination for a Better World' and will address over five days global issues on water management, latest desalination technologies and environmental and energy impacts of desalination. The event features 23 technical sessions, 240 presentations, lectures, roundtable discussions, interactive sessions and workshops. A concurrent exhibition will showcase the latest equipment and technology from 70 participating Companies from over 21 Countries.

-Ends-

Information about the IDA World Congress is available on the IDA World Congress website at www.idadubai2009.com.

About IDA
The International Desalination Association (www.idadesal.org) is a non-profit association of over 2,200 members in 60 countries. The membership is comprised of scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

About TechnoPark
TechnoParkTechnoPark is Economic Zones WorldEconomic Zones World's research and development driven business and industrial park. It symbolizes Dubai's vision to develop a knowledge-based sustainable business hub that will support the country's research and development needs in core sectors and support the nation's long term economic development and growth.

Located to the west of Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone) on an area of 21 million square meters of land, TechnoParkTechnoPark is focused on Research, Development and Studies in core economic sectors, including Energy, Desalination and Water Resources Management, Environmental Resource Management and technology driven, knowledge-based industrial development.

About Economic Zones WorldEconomic Zones World (EZW)
Economic Zones WorldEconomic Zones World (EZW) is the global provider of sustainable industrial and logistics infrastructure solutions. The company aims to create a robust network of economic zones, technology, logistics and industrial parks as well as build-to-suit developments across the world with an objective to support the dynamic expansion of its rapidly growing international customer base.

EZW's current portfolio includes Jafza, one of the world's largest free zones; Gazeley, a global developer of highly efficient, carbon positive logistics and industrial spaces; TechnoParkTechnoPark, a research driven business and industrial park, and Dubai Auto Zone, a comprehensive market place for the Auto industry. EZW is currently engaged in more than 30 development projects across Asia (India, Malaysia, China), Africa (Djibouti, Senegal), the Middle East (UAE, Oman), Europe (Belgium, UK, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, France) and the Americas (USA).

For more information, please contact
Adeti Changulani
World View Communications,
Dubai World
DID: +9714 8080326
Mob: +971 50 429 5576
Email: adeti.changulani@wvc.ae

© Press Release 2009

 

Community Comments (0) - Comment on this article

The opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect Zawya. Read our Comment Policy.

 

 

 

close x

Loading ...

 

close x

Report Abuse

Loading ...

 

 

close x

Loading ...