International event Singapore: Global water conference

The 7th Singapore International Water Week drew to a successful close with more than 21,000 participants from all over the world and S$15.2 billion in total value of business deals announced.

Efficient water management, future technologies and talent development emerged high on the global water sustainability agenda at the 7th Singapore International Water Week. Held from July 10–14, 2016, the global water conference also concluded on a record-breaking note, garnering S$15.2 billion in total value for the announcements on projects awarded, tenders, investments and MoUs. Held in conjunction with the World Cities Summit (WCS) and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS), the three co-located conferences attracted more than 21,000 participants from 115 countries and regions.

Announcements at the event

The record-breaking achievement in total value for announcements on company investments, R&D collaborations and project partnerships reaffirmed the continued vibrancy of Singapore as a global hydrohub and SIWW as the leading global water platform for business networking, solutions and technology. Some of the significant announcements made at this year’s SIWW included:

• Call for upcoming tenders for the design and construction of Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2 and the Integrated Waste Management Facility; the design and construction of DTSS Phase 2 is estimated to cost S$6.5 billion;

• A S$200 million funding boost under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 plan to further R&D in the Singapore water industry over the next five years;

• The construction of a fifth desalination plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island that will add 30 million gallons of water per day to the nation’s water supply;

• Launch of the Singapore Water Academy, an institute for learning that builds and enhances the capabilities of water professionals in Singapore and around the world;

• Opening of Memstar’s Membrane Manufacturing Plant and R&D centre, a new membrane manufacturing facility in Singapore;

• An investment of S$3.5 billion by Korea’s Ministry of Environment over the next 12 years to refurbish and build new water infrastructure;

• A research collaboration between ZWEEC and USEPA for the development and implementation of an online toxicity water monitoring program;

• A five-year agreement between PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, and GE Water to explore new research opportunities as well as develop novel water treatment technologies and R&D projects locally.

Showcasing new technologies

The Water Leaders Summit played host to over 500 water leaders from the government, utilities, international organizations, academia and private companies, including, 14 water-related ministers, water utility leaders from every continent and CEOs of the world’s biggest water companies. Distinguished delegates included Minister of Municipality and Environment, Qatar, HE Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Rumaihi; Minister for Environment and Food, Denmark, HE Esben Lunde Larsen; UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Water, Special Advisor to the High Level Panel on Water, and former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Han Seung-soo; President, World Water Council, Benedito Braga; President & Chief Executive Officer, Manila Water Company, Gerardo Ablaza Jr; Chairman of the Board of Nestlé SA, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe; and Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Charles O Holliday-Jr.

As an integrated component across SIWW, WCS and CESS, the inaugural City Solutions Singapore brought together more than 1,000 leading companies and innovative start-ups across 31,000 sq m to showcase new and cutting-edge solutions for urban development, water, and waste and cleaning management. Four country / region pavilions – Turkey, Spain, Scotland and the EU Business Avenues in Southeast Asia Pavilion – made their bow at SIWW 2016, joining 17 other pavilions to provide a gateway for their companies to enter the growing Asian water market.

“This year’s SIWW saw more discussions elevating the water agenda for cities, enhancing collaborations between the public and private sectors, and the use of next-generation technologies for the future of water,” said Managing Director, SIWW, Bernard Tan. “The high value and wide-ranging announcements cement SIWW’s value proposition as a global platform for business match-making, practical solutions and innovative technologies.”

More than 100 co-located events were organized on the sidelines of SIWW, adding to the vibrancy and buzz of the four-day event. Highlights include the inaugural high-level ASEAN Plus Three Water Ministers Forum (APTWMF) where ministers shared the latest plans and developments of water resources management among APT countries. It facilitated the strengthening of cooperative efforts to improve overall water management among the ASEAN-China, ASEAN-Japan, and ASEAN-Korea Centres.

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