TOPSFIELD, MA, June 5, 2008 -- The International Desalination Association (IDA) announced that it will co-sponsor the upcoming Water Leaders Summit as part of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW). The Water Leaders Summit commences on June 24, the opening day of SIWW, and continues through June 25.
With more than 4,000 attendees, SIWW is a leading global platform to examine water solutions. This year's Opening Ceremony features a Keynote Address by H.E. Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, as well as a Welcome Address by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore.
"The Water Leaders Summit is a key global event that explores all the elements that factor into an effective water use and reuse strategy. With more than half the world's population living in urban areas, we believe it is critically important to take a holistic view as we examine how new desalination and water reuse technologies fit into a total solution to address the challenges ahead," said Patricia Burke, Secretary General of the International Desalination Association.
The Water Leaders Summit will bring together the world's top policy makers, ministers, civic officials, leaders of industry, international organizations and leading academics in the field of water use. The event begins with a Plenary Forum entitled Good Governance, Sustainable Cities. A joint session between the SIWW, the World Cities Summit and the East Asia Summit Conference on Liveable Cities, this forum will focus on the development of effective policies related to water, energy and environmental sustainability.
The Summit continues with three Roundtables:
• The Right Environment for Water Technologies -- how governments, industry and research institutions can collaborate in developing new desalination and water reuse solutions to alleviate water shortages.
• The Business of Water -- strategies to transition the provision of water infrastructure into a viable business.
• Cities of the Future -- how water resource strategies can be integrated into plans for future urbanization.
Organized by PUB, Singapore's national water agency, the Water Leaders Summit is also supported by the Lee Kuan Kew School of Public Policy. Singapore International Water Week brings together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
The International Desalination Association (www.idadesal.org) is a non-profit association of over 2,000 members in fifty-eight countries. The membership is comprised of scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non- governmental organizations (NGOs).
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