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DAILY NEWS 19th January 2015
Industry leaders address global thirst for water sustainability solutions THE THIRD edition of the International Water Summit (IWS) opens its doors at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) today, as more than 7,000 people from the water and wastewater industry worldwide gather to promote and discuss water sustainability in arid regions. Held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, IWS intends to act as a platform, bringing together world leaders, field experts and business innovators to tackle the industry’s challenges and promote innovative solutions. HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and CEO of Masdar, said, “Without access to safe, potable water, global ambitions to create a sustainable future underpinned by social and economic stability are unattainable. “Yet, across the world, particularly in arid regions such as the Middle East and North Africa, significant water stress leaves our energy security and economic future in the balance. IWS is a platform designed to address this.” Co-located with the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and EcoWASTE, and part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, IWS will feature
#IWS15
IWS is set to welcome more than 7,000 people this year
more than 70 global industry speakers as part of its conference programme. Key topics to be covered in this year’s conference include water conservation and future water sustainability, integrated water resource management, smart water technology and creating water network efficiency. Another major focus of the IWS conference is the nexus of water and energy in food security. In 2011, Arab countries spent US$56bn on food imports, according to a recent report by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED). Furthermore, this figure is forecast to grow to US$150bn by 2050 if the gaps in food production are not addressed. Najib Saab, secretary general of AFED, stated, “Irrigation efficiency and water productivity need to be boosted to ensure food security for Arab countries. A radical shift is necessary toward crops that are less water-intensive.” In addition to the exhibition and conference, IWS 2015 welcomes the launch of Innovate@IWS. The inaugural initiative, co-organised by Isle Utilities, gives innovators and technologists from across the water industry the chance to connect with investors and end users, as well as showcase their products and ideas to an expert panel.
www.internationalwatersummit.com
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19 January 2015
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NEWS: MENA region to spend US$300bn on water projects by 2022
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NEWS: Atmospheric Water Solutions launches innovative technology
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FEATURE: Global experts set to address major industry topics at the IWS conference Q&A: Alan Thomson, managing director for Abu Dhabi Sewerage & Services Company (ADSSC), speaks exclusively about viable solutions for water security and the UAE's approach to sustainable technologies PICTURE GALLERY: Take a look back at the highlights of IWS 2014
INTERNATIONAL WATER SUMMIT
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