“Water Security – Good Governance and Sustainable Solutions”

Water problems in most parts of the Asia-Pacific are not due to an absolute shortage of water but poor governance. These problems could be solved with good governance and better management practices. More importantly, it is also recognised that water is essential to sustainable development. Against this backdrop, the theme adopted for the inaugural Asia-Pacific Water Ministers’ Forum (APWMF), which will be held on 28 June 2010 alongside the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), is “Water Security – Good Governance and Sustainable Solutions”.

Objectives:
The APWMF, which is organised by Singapore's Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and PUB Singapore in close cooperation with the Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF), ties in with the "Minister for Water Security" initiative presented by the APWF at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul in 2009. The objectives of the initiative are to:

  • Raise water security issues on the agenda of leaders in their countries and regions
  • Allow leaders to engage in dialogues and exchanges of experience on policies and solutions relating to water security
  • Initiate or accelerate concrete actions so as to increase water security 
  • Help articulate the Asia-Pacific region's voice on water issues and solutions for water security
  • Catalyze actions that help to increase water security in the region.

The initiative is expected to raise awareness and facilitate regular dialogues among leaders in government, private sector and civil society on policies, investments and innovative solutions that help to increase water security in countries throughout the region. To this end, the APWMF seeks to provide a platform for the Asia- Pacific Ministers /water leaders to share their views on the importance of good governance and the challenges in bringing sustainable water solutions to their people. It is also a platform for the APWF to share its achievements since the first Asia-Pacific Water Summit in Beppu, Japan in 2007 and convey key recommendations to the Ministers and water leaders to address critical water issues in the region.

Ministerial Roundtable & Outcomes

The second half of the APWMF will feature a Ministerial Roundtable structured to provide sufficient opportunities for constructive and informative dialogue amongst the Ministers.  
The salient points of the Ministerial Roundtable will be included in the SIWW newsletter due to be published on the day after the event. In addition, the outcome of the roundtable discussion will be published as a box story in the post-SIWW Blue Paper 2010.  A summary document on the discussions will be released during the second Asia-Pacific Water Summit and disseminated at other relevant global forums by the APWF.

Date: 28 June 2010 (Monday)
Time: 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Venue: Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Level 3, Gallery East

Click Here to register for the SIWW and the Asia-Pacific Water Ministers’ Forum

About the Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF)
The APWF is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-political network. APWF will be inclusive, open and flexible, with an appropriate governance superstructure and an optimal delegation of responsibility to the contributing member organizations for the delivery of agreed products and services of high quality and practical value.

The goal of the APWF is to contribute to sustainable water management in order to achieve the targets of the MDGs in Asia and the Pacific by capitalizing on the region's diversity and rich history of experience in dealing with water as a fundamental part of the human existence. Specifically, the APWF shall champion efforts aimed at boosting investments, building capacity, and enhancing cooperation in the water sector at the regional level and beyond.

Learn more about Asia Pacific Water Forum at http://www.apwf.org/

Contact Person
For more information on the Asia-Pacific Water Ministers’ Forum, please contact
Mr Tan Han Chuan
Tel: +65 6346 4402
Email: apwmf@themeetinglab.com