Background

The Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts, and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities, and celebrate achievements in the water world. SIWW features an annual Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, and Water Expo, and culminates in the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, an international award that recognizes outstanding contributions in solving water issues.

ADB supported the inaugural SIWW in 2008 to stimulate water investments, reforms, capacity development, and knowledge sharing under its Water Financing Program 2006-2010. During the SIWW 2009, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda, in his speech at the opening ceremony, announced ADB's strategic partnership with SIWW from 2010-2012 and called for maintaining investments and looking for better opportunities for the water sector even in times of economic downturns. That year, ADB also co-organized the Southeast Asia Business Forum and contributed to the session on "Water Policy Dialogue: Water Governance," organized by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

This year, SIWW 2010 has for its theme, "Sustainable Cities: Clean and Affordable Water," to highlight the accelerating trend towards urbanisation and the urgency to address water shortage issues before the situation deteriorates further and hampers economic growth. ADB, as a strategic partner, will provide continued support.

Objectives

SIWW 2010 will focus on the need for efficiency and cost effective solutions to address water problems amidst a constantly changing environment.

Organizers

The event is being organized by the Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd, with support from ADB.

Participants

Water experts, business professionals, and representatives from government, the private sector, and development agencies are invited to participate.