Advancements in desalination, water and wastewater treatment, water leakage solution, water-reuse, financing for water and wastewater projects, solar power projects, sustainable urban development and strategic plan on smart city projects were outlined at the meeting by a delegation of Japan's 12 companies and two public entities. The JCCI and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) jointly hosted the event, which was attended by a number of local businessmen and professionals.

"The meeting aims to enable Japanese companies and local partners make combined efforts to contribute to water and energy infrastructure development in the Kingdom," JCCME President Tadatsuna Koda said while speaking at the opening session. He noted that Saudi Arabia's rapid population growth and dramatic economic progress are spurring extremely high demand for water and power. "Of course, measures are being taken to meet the increasing demand for water, an indispensable resource in the region," he said and referred to the steps taken so far across the Kingdom and Middle East to meet water needs. He especially referred to the seawater desalination plants that are being constructed to expand water supply capacities and, more recently, greater attention being placed on establishing a water supply management system including leakage prevention as well as recycling treated wastewater.

As regards energy, he added, there is a heightened interest in renewable energy such as solar power generation, nuclear energy and wind-power generation from the perspectives of utilizing oil resources effectively and conserving the environment in oil-producing countries.

JCCME, founded in 1973, is a non-profit private organization that operates under the aegis of Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, he said explaining its objective which is to promote economic cooperation between Japan and the Middle East through direct investment and technology transfer from Japan to these countries.

JCCI Secretary General Adnan Mandoura in his welcome remarks said the Kingdom was looking forward to Japan for technology and know-how transfers, in addition to increased investments in different industrial sectors.

In his keynote address, Satoshi Takizawa, professor at the University of Tokyo, leader of the delegation and chairman of Japan Cooperation Committee on Water Resources for the Middle East, referred to various measures Japan had taken to satisfy the increasing needs for water and energy in different parts of the country.

Japanese Consul General Jun Yoshida reviewed the strong bilateral economic and trade relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan and hoped that the meeting in which major Japanese companies are participating would pave the way for increased business interactions and engagements between the two countries.

Japanese companies gave presentations on their specialized fields — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on its SWRO desalination technology, Swing Corporation on its role as a water business partner, Hitachi on water environment solutions, KOBELCO Eco-Solutions Co. on technicalities of combined desalination system, Toray Industries on its water treatment business and Japan Bank for International Cooperation on financing water business in the Middle East.