Events
Kitakyushu International Water Business Forum 2010
Date: December 14, 2010
Venue: Kitakyushu Municipal Gender Equality Center MOVE, Kitakyushu, Japan
Organized by:
Committee of Kitakyushu International Water Business Promotion Association
Co-organized by:
- Water Supply and Sewerage Association of Kitakyushu
- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
- Global Water Recycling and Reuse Solution Technology Research Association (GWSTA)
Co-organized by:
- Kyoto University Global COE Program "Global Center for Education and Research on Human Security Engineering for Asian Megacities"
- Kyoto University Environmental Management Leader (EML) Program
- Global Center for Urban Sanitation (GCUS)
Number of attendants: about 500
Report 133
Outline
Kitakyushu International Water Business Forum 2010 was held at Kitakyushu Municipal Gender Equality Center MOVE on December 14th, 2010. Representatives from Japan, China, and Singapore had a great opportunity to discuss and reorganize the "Water Business" from academic, administrative and private industrial aspects in this same international stage. Meanwhile, in order to stimulate the local economy and make more contribution to the global environment, Kitakyushu City has been promoting the "International Water Business" as one of the private-public initiatives. Therefore, it could be observed that the forum reflects the mindsets of the day.
Report
The keynote lecture was given by the Professor Hiroaki Tanaka. Professor Tanaka mentioned that it is time to terminate the heavy consumerism of water and energy and convert the style of development into the efficient water circulation system which could save more energy and water sources. He also claimed that it is necessary to shift from 20th century to a new type of water circulation system of 21st. And the Japanese society should make efforts on sending environmental awareness signals and appeal to the world with its advanced technologies and knowledge on the water circulation and energy conservation. He also introduced the Global COE and the EML Programs of Kyoto University as the representative academic platform of international exchange and education.
Dr. Jinsong Zhang gave the speech on the current Chinese water situation and prospects. He mentioned that under the rapid urbanization of domestic development, China is facing various challenges in the environment issue. On the water supply aspect, the challenge includes the greatly degraded water resources, limitation on water quality test and monitoring system, shortage on the network infrastructure, and the stringent drinking-water and wastewater discharge standards, backward sludge treatment and disposal were on the wastewater aspect. It was emphasized that there are great opportunities for domestic and international environmental industries to solve the regional problems. Furthermore, valuable information on the market trend of the water business, demand on the treatment in detail and the comparison of domestic and international environmental industries were also provided by him.
Officer Chua Yiak Hwa Clarence from the Singapore Economic Development Board gave the introduction on the Global Hydro Hub with the overview of the Singapore economy, Cleantech industries. Moving towards the goal of a vibrant water ecosystem supplying technology and products to 3% of the global water market, environment and water are identified as the "key growth area" in Singapore. He admitted the importance and the need of the high-tech knowledge and the know-hows on the basic operation from the leading countries such as Japan, and also as one of the national strategies on the environmental issue.
Mr. Shinjiro Ueda gave the speech on the introduction of GWSTA and a successful abroad contribution example in the United Arab Emirates.
On the panel discussion, it was recognized that with the increasing need of purified water and wastewater treatment in Asia, Japan has been focused and expected for its advanced technology and knowledge on the water circulation system by many countries. The agreement on the perspiration of "international water business" from the private industrial, administrative and academic representatives was reached and strengthened.
