Singapore International Water Week: $2.8b in deals

Straits Times 6 Jul 10;

A section of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant where reverse osmosis occurs. Many nations are seeking ways to meet their water needs. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE

THE deals flooded in for local and global companies at last week's Singapore International Water Week, with almost $3 billion worth of agreements inked.

Adding up all the projects awarded, tenders won, investments made and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) signed, the third Water Week drew $2.8 billion in deals, up 27 per cent from last year's $2.2 billion.

A record number of people also turned up, said the organisers yesterday, with more than 14,000 participants from 85 countries attending the event held in conjunction with the World Cities Summit at the Suntec convention centre.

Of these, about 380 were high-level delegates, including the Prince of Orange from the Netherlands, the President of the Republic of Maldives, the vice-president of the World Bank, and water and environment ministers from Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

'Despite the uncertain global economic recovery, water remains a key focus area for governments and industries as cities around the world continue to grow at an unprecedented rate with rapid urbanisation,' said Mr Michael Toh, the managing director of Water Week.

'Many countries continue to seek clean and affordable solutions to meet their respective needs and use the Water Week as a platform for learning, exchange and networking.'

Among the deals struck last week were home-grown water company Moya Dayen's $69 million contract to build water treatment facilities in Cambodia. The project will produce 130,000 cubic metres of potable water a day to serve the population of Greater Phnom Penh.

A Singapore unit of Boustead, a global infrastructure engineering firm, won a $21 million contract for the first new water recycling plant in the UAE.

Meanwhile, local energy, water and marine group Sembcorp signed an MOU last week worth $280 million to construct a new desalination plant in the UAE. It also announced plans to develop a new wastewater treatment facility in the Tembusu District of Jurong Island.

The Water Expo, a water trade show at Water Week, also enjoyed a stellar turnout, with more than 500 companies from nearly 40 countries participating. At its Innovation Corner, 26 new products and technologies made their debuts.

Preparations are already under way for next year's Water Week, which will focus on efficient and cost-effective solutions for a changing urban environment, said the event's organisers.

FIONA CHAN

International Water Week deals done rise 27% to $2.8b
Jaslene Pang Business Times 6 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE International Water Week (SIWW) 2010 ended on a high note last week for many local and international water companies.

The total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments into Singapore and R&D MOUs exceeded $2.8 billion - up 27 per cent from last year's $2.2 billion.

Michael Toh, MD of SIWW, said: 'Many countries continue to seek clean and affordable solutions to meet their respective needs and use the Water Week as a platform for learning, exchange and networking. We are delighted with the significant increase in the total value of announcements during the week.'

During the water week, local companies flew their flags high.

One of them was homegrown energy, water and marine group Sembcorp, which signed a memorandum of understanding worth $280 million to expand seawater desalination capacity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company also announced that it would develop a new integrated wastewater treatment facility in Jurong Island's Tembusu district.

Another significant deal closed last week was the combined $69 million contract clinched by homegrown water company Moya Dayen Ltd from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority in Cambodia for Phase 1 of the Niroth Water Production Facilities Project.

The SIWW, which was held together with the World Cities Summit this year, also saw a record increase in the number of trade attendees to over 14,000 from 85 countries and regions.

In all, 26 new products and technologies made their regional and international debut at the Water Expo's Innovation Corner.

Apart from these, the number of co-located events increased nearly 60 per cent to 120 events, including the inaugural Asia-Pacific Water Ministers' Forum; the 14th Meeting of the UN Secretary- General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation; and the first-ever River Basin & Delta Management Workshop.

Mr Toh said: 'We have already begun working on the 2011 event and will continue to work on the many ideas and solutions developed and discussed at the Water Week 2010. Water Week 2011 will focus on efficient and cost-effective solutions for a changing urban environment.'

S$2.8b in deals sealed at Singapore International Water Week
Mustafa Shafawi Channel NewsAsia 5 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE : The recently-concluded Singapore International Water Week ended on a high note for many local and international water companies.

The organiser said the total value of projects, tenders, investments into Singapore and R&D MOUs announced exceeded S$2.8 billion, up 27 per cent compared to last year.

The event, which was held together with the World Cities Summit this year, also saw a record increase in the number of trade attendees to over 14,000 from 85 countries/regions.

In all, 26 new products and technologies made their regional and international debut at the Water Expo's Innovation Corner, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for such global and regional launches.

Work has begun on the 2011 event, which will focus on efficient and cost-effective solutions for a changing urban environment.

- CNA/al