Ministers commit to managing water resources sustainably

Victoria Vaughan, Straits Times 23 Jun 09;

MINISTERS and senior officials from around the world yesterday underscored their commitment to managing water resources sustainably, in tandem with well- planned urban development.

Representatives from 10 countries and two regions, ranging from Colombia to China, made a formal declaration to promote integrated water resource development at the 7th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia-Pacific Region.

About 60 officials attended the closed-door event, held alongside Singapore International Water Week.

They agreed to work together to do research and share expertise, and to use technology such as water recycling to cut dependency on primary water sources such as rivers.

Despite the current economic climate, their governments would lead the charge in funding

and supporting infrastructure projects, they said in the declaration.

Representatives from Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Vietnam and Western Australia also joined in the declaration.

Hong Kong's secretary for development, Mrs Carrie Lam, said the declaration was in line with Hong Kong's total water strategy.

Despite the economic downturn, the responsibility to invest in water infrastructure should be supported by governments, she stressed.

'Hong Kong is currently engaged in upgrading its water treatment plants and replacing its ageing water pipes,' she said.

Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said that some countries had shown interest in the country's ability to recycle water and its integrated management of water resources.

The Republic is a small city-state, however, so scale would be taken into consideration when looking at any proposed projects, he noted.

'I told some of the ministers we are more than happy to share our experiences,' he said.

Ministers to work on water infrastructure
Asia-Pac leaders recognise need for integrated resource management
Nisha Ramchandani, Business Times 23 Jun 09;

(SINGAPORE) About 60 water infrastructure and environment ministers and senior officials from 11 Asia-Pacific economies met yesterday for the Seventh Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia-Pacific Region, pledging to work together to surmount the challenges facing water infrastructure planning and urban development.

The theme for this year's forum - which was chaired by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim - was 'Integrating Water Infrastructure Planning with Sustainable Urban Development'. It was held as a co-located event of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW).

'In spite of the current economic crisis and the ongoing global changes in the financial landscape, the member states are committed to work together to overcome the challenges and issues of water infrastructure planning and urban development,' the ministers wrote in a declaration.

Recognising the need to promote integrated water resource management for sustainable urban development, the ministers highlighted the adoption of strategic and long-term approaches to water infrastructure planning as well as leveraging on technologies for water recycling and other solutions to cut down dependency on primary water sources.

At the same time, the member states hope to foster partnerships between the governments, research institutions as well as other public and private parties to facilitate water infrastructure projects.

It is also important for member states to provide the governmental lead in supporting and funding water infrastructure projects in light of the current economic situation, said the declaration.

Other issues that were raised during the forum include sharing knowledge among member states and using capacity building and research and development (R&D) funds within individual member states to strengthen R&D capabilities in water infrastructure technologies.

The ministers are also committed to participating in international water forums and related activities in the Asia-Pacific region, such as SIWW and the IWA-ASPIRE Convention and Exhibition.