Australians to Showcase Market Opportunities in Singapore
Senior company executives and government leaders from Australia will be in Singapore during the inaugural Singapore International Water Week to share their country's experience and expertise in water management and to attract investors.
Participants from Australia and the region will discuss how their countries have overcome water resource issues and will meet with developers of new technologies that have high energy efficiencies and leave little or no negative impact on the environment. These are critical learning points, as state and federal governments are turning to technology such as desalination and water reclamation to meet growing domestic demand and dwindling natural supplies.
Senior government leaders, including John Kolbelke, Western Australian State Minister for Water Resources, and Karlene Maywald, South Australian State Minister for the River Murray, Water Security and Regional Development, will be presenting at the Australia Business Forum, one of seven business forums at the event.
These business forums serve as a platform for international delegates and business leaders to explore opportunities in regions such as Europe, China, India, Japan, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The inaugural Water Week will be held June 23-27.
The forum will feature discussions on these topics:
• Major infrastructure projects in the water and wastewater sector and the estimated value of these infrastructure projects by water services agencies in Australia in the next few years.
• Current and emerging structural and institutional arrangements in the water sector in Australia.
• Range of delivery methods used for both capital works and maintenance and different business models
In addition, Singapore-based water companies that are planning collaborations and projects with the Australian state governments will be represented at the Water Expo, the tradeshow segment of the event.
"These valuable interactions among the various stakeholders in the water industry will facilitate important tie-ups and exchange of expertise across all markets," said Michael Toh, general manager of the Singapore International Water Week. "Our counterparts in Australia have a wealth of experience in water management, and we look forward to hearing from them and exchanging ideas on how we can manage this precious resource."
The availability and management of water resources has become a key issue in Australia. The recent drought, the importance of agricultural industries that rely on irrigation and growing population centers have highlighted the need to better manage scarce water resources and secure new sources of supply. These issues, in addition to the impact of climate change, are driving policy change across Australian state and federal governments.
Significant infrastructure programs are being developed by the federal and state governments to address growing concerns regarding the sustainability of Australia's water resources, including the provision of water supplies and services. Large-scale desalination, water recycling, and other infrastructure projects are being considered or implemented in every major city in Australia.
The theme of the Singapore International Water is "Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities."