Speeches

Good Morning and welcome again to the Water Leaders Summit at the Singapore International Water Week 2009.  We are pleased to have with us many distinguished contemporaries and experts from the water profession, including delegates of the Water Leaders Summit, the Water Convention and the International Water Association’s Leading-Edge Technologies Conference. With your presence, I am confident that we can all look forward to many invigorating discussions at this Water Leaders Summit.   

Recap of WLS 08

Those of you who were here at last year’s Water Leaders Summit would recall the excellent presentations and discussions.  Under the theme, “Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities”, esteemed speakers from around the world addressed the urgent need for solutions to tackle water problems arising from rapid urban growth.    

In the discussions, it was recognized that addressing these problems required a concerted effort by the various stakeholders on numerous fronts. Good governance, supported by technology could pave the way for innovative ideas; however it was equally important that a balance between the environment and economic development be struck for any solutions to be sustainable.  It was further noted that in this diverse interconnected environment, there can be many solutions, each customized to the particular needs of the city.  

I believe the discussions were useful to everyone, and that you had benefited from the new perspectives in pursuing initiatives in your countries, cities, or companies.  I look forward to hearing from the speakers at the Ministerial Forum on the progress they have made, and their views on the changes relating to water over the past year. 

Challenges Amidst Global Crises

Since the last summit, the world has been reeling from crisis after crisis.  The economic downturn that has affected so many industries has not left the water industry unscathed.  With fewer orders, some industries have cut-back on production, resulting in decreasing water demand from non-domestic customers.  This sudden drop in demand may result in water assets becoming redundant and water projects being postponed. 

The credit crunch has further created new challenges in securing funding for major water infrastructure projects.  Banks have reduced the funding caps for projects.  Difficulty in securing project financing could result in delays in the execution of critical projects.  The overall reduction in liquidity also means that some companies may choose to scale back on essential research and development initiatives and manpower development. 

The recent outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) has also captured much of the global attention. While this is inevitable, we cannot afford to take our eyes off the need to press on with efforts to tackle pressing water challenges.  Your presence here reaffirms our concerted dedication to tackling pressing water challenges. Indeed, increasing access to clean water and sanitation is key to improving public health and hygiene, a basic yet vital aspect of keeping pandemics at bay. 

Governments to Take the Lead in Partnership with 3P Partners

However, there are also opportunities in these trying times which we should actively seek to capitalise. There has been general under-spending in infrastructure projects and in many cities economic growth has outpaced infrastructure development. What this slowdown has provided is the opportunity for infrastructure to “catch-up” with urbanization. Governments should take the lead and expedite infrastructure development. 

As countries increase fiscal spending to stimulate their economies, it is important that infrastructure development be included as part of their stimulus packages.  The benefits of infrastructure development extend beyond the short term boost to the economy, and will allow cities to emerge in a stronger position to benefit from the eventual global economic recovery.

Governments can also do more to facilitate technology development.  Under the twin pressures of an economic slowdown and a credit crunch, some companies will scale back on research and development. Governments can mitigate some of these pressures by introducing a framework for R&D support. 

In addition, Governments can step up efforts to create an environment that is conducive to the commercialisation of technology.  Regulatory controls in areas such as intellectual property, and improving access to information, are some areas that would benefit from government intervention. 

However, as we in Singapore have come to realise, Governments need to look to other organizations to participate in and sustain the development of infrastructure and technology.  By leveraging on resources and expertise from the private sector, industry associations, and multilateral aid agencies, we can develop the water sector at a faster pace. 

I am hopeful that this forum on and the subsequent round table discussions will explore the dynamics of infrastructure and technology development, allowing us to distil the key ideas into actionable items and specific deliverables. 

Closing

In opening today’s sessions, I would like to once again, express my sincere thanks to our key partners, the International Desalination Association and the International Water Association, as well as Professor Tommy Koh.  I also thank all of you for being here with us and I look forward to fruitful and engaging discussions amongst us over the next two days. 

Thank you.