Singapore International Water Week
Meeting Report
ADB supported the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2009 by sending an ADB delegation and co-organizing the Southeast Asia Business Forum. SIWW is the global platform that brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
|
|
Event Details
 |
- Date: 21-26 June 2009
- Venue: Singapore
- Contact: Anand Chiplunkar
- Related materials:
|
|
No less than ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda led the ADB’s modest delegation to SIWW. The president, in his speech at the opening ceremony, called for maintaining investments and looking for better opportunities for the water sector even in times of economic downturns. He also announced ADB’s partnership with SIWW from 2010-2012. ADB delegates participated in these conference activities:
- Water Leaders Summit – featured a Ministerial Forum and plenary, roundtable discussions on investment for water infrastructure and leveraging on technology, and the lecture of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize awardee
- Water Convention – consisted of parallel sessions featuring researches on the latest water and wastewater technology
- Business Forums – where ADB made the maximum impact as these also drew in ADB clients and DMCs
- Water Expo – a showcase of the latest technologies in water supply and sanitation, where ADB’s booth was sought by big water technology companies, academics, and NGOs seeking partnerships and opportunities for funding and technology support
- Technical Tours – featured some of Singapore’s solid waste and wastewater treatment plants and schemes
- Water Policy Dialogue: Water Governance (parallel event at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy) – which convened water leaders to discuss achievements and challenges in water management, where ADB took a lead role
 Top
- SIWW is a “talk and walk” conference, i.e., participants have the opportunity not just to listen to lectures but to engage directly with fellow water sector professionals. The business forums and water expo provided good networking opportunities for ADB.
- ADB needs to bring in more clients and more ADB staff to SIWW for networking opportunities and introduction to research and technology products that may be adopted in ADB projects
- Future SIWW should consider giving equal attention to water resources, considering that sustainable delivery of water supply largely hinges on their sustainability.
- Critical issues like climate change were conspicuously absent from the discussions. Considering climate change’s impact on water, future events should make sure this receives as much attention.
 |
Topics 
Water 
