King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has approved the launch of the Saudi International Water and Energy Forum to be held here in October. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, will patronize the forum in the presence of Abdullah Bin Abdurrahman Al-Hussayyen, Minister of Water and Electricity, along with some 3,000 experts, researchers and people with an interest in the water and energy sectors from the Kingdom and abroad. The three-day forum starting Oct. 3 will be one of the most important scientific meetings embodying the Kingdom's interests in developing water and energy services for sustainable growth and development. Fahd Abu Al-Nasr, CEO of Al-Aghar Strategic Think-tank Group, who in collaboration with Al-Boshnaq Academy and CWC Group signed Sunday a strategic partnership to organize the forum, said that important topics, research and scientific materials would be discussed during the forum. “Moreover, we will invite official speakers and facilitate scientific support,” he said. He added that his group would also provide the forum with one of the most important working papers about water conditions in Saudi Arabia. “This paper, which will focus on the future of renewable energy, is one of the most important issues that international experts will discuss,” he added. Abu Al-Nasr hoped that the water and energy forum would meet the aspirations of the Kingdom, which attaches great importance to making appropriate recommendations and achieving positive results in the service of the country, considering that water and power are essential elements in the nation's development and transformation to a knowledge-based economy. Dr. Adel Ahmed Boshnaq, head of the organizing committee, said that the support of the Ministry of Water and Electricity mirrors its keenness to improve the Kingdom's capability to achieve international leadership in these two vital sectors for the security and prosperity of both the country and the region. He pointed out that the forum will discuss government plans to make water and energy readily available in all parts of the Kingdom, including the country's modern economic cities. “On the sidelines of the forum, an international exhibition for water and energy will be held. All government and private sectors that are interested in water and energy will take part in the exhibition, which will include the latest in the fields of energy and water desalination,” Dr. Boshnaq said.
