JEDDAH, 13 March 2005 — The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) has established a water desk, the first in the world, at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Hideki Kono, executive director of JCCME, said during a presentation here recently that the objective of the Japan Water Desk (JWD) was to support transfer of technology and direct investments from Japan to Saudi Arabia in projects related to water resources.
He said with the rapid population growth, one of Saudi Arabia’s foremost challenges must be securing water resources. “The government has initiated large-scale projects such as construction of power plants and desalination plants in order to secure long-term, stable water resources. The government has also set forth a policy to manage its water resources by emphasizing leakage control, waste water treatment, recycling and conservation,” he added.
Kazumasa Kusaka, vice minister for international affairs at the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry who attended the presentation, told Arab News that by working together Japan can bring in its own technology and human resources to help solve the country’s water problems.
