RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands are working together to discuss possible solutions for today’s global water challenges. Experts from both countries will meet at a roundtable discussion organized by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) in the southern Dutch city of Delft on Friday. They will discuss challenges such as water conservation and efficient water usage at the fourth Prince Sultan International Prize for Water awards ceremony.

Assistant Minister for Defense and Aviation Prince Khaled bin Sultan, who is also the chairman of the PSIPW Council, is attending the event along with the Prince of Orange.

Secretary of the PSIPW committee Abdulmalek A. Alshaikh told Arab News the prizes, which reflect Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to address water concerns on global level, had been inspiring scholars and scientists to work hard to solve water-related issues.

He said the purpose of holding PSIPW Prize Council meetings abroad was to encourage the exchange of ideas and open channels of cooperation among water specialists, scientists and scholars on a global level. The city of Delft was chosen this year because it was famous for the Delft University of Technology and its long association with the Dutch royal family. The Netherlands is also internationally renowned for its distinctive expertise in water management and water technology. The biennial prizes are awarded in five categories, said Alshaikh, with the top prize of SR1 million given to winner of the creativity category. Winners of the other four categories, including surface water, alternative water resources, water resources management and protection fields, will receive SR500,000 each.

Alshaikh said the PSIPW officials would also visit Dutch water projects to learn from Holland’s experience in the fields of water and conservation.

The mayor of Delft will host a dinner on Friday, attended by Prince Khaled and the Prince of Orange, along with a number of scholars and members of the Dutch academic and business community.

The PSIPW is an international award judged by leading scientists from around the world. Prince Khaled heads the prize council. Crown Prince Sultan established the awards in 2002.