Tuesday, June 27th, 2006
“Challenges and Future Perspectives of Water Resources Management: Cases from Middle East/Nort
World Bank Public Seminar Held via GDLN connecting Tokyo, Cairo and Beijing
"Challenges and Future Perspectives of Water Resources Management: Cases from Middle East/North Africa and Asia”was the theme of a World Bank Public Seminar held on June 27, 2006, allowing Bank experts to present their findings to nearly 60 specialists in the field from government, development agencies, the private sector and NGOs. Organized by the World Bank Tokyo Office and Japan Water Forum, the seminar connected Tokyo, Cairo and Beijing via the GDLN to incorporate various perspectives, including comments from Dr.Mahmoud A. Abu-Zeid, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
The first half of the seminar, moderated by Japan Water Forum Secretary General Dr.Koutaro Takemura, began with a presentation on “Integrated Water Resources Management on a river-basin scale: Comparative Study of India, Brazil, China and France” by Mr. Satoru Ueda, World Bank Senior Water Specialist, Middle East and North Africa Region. Based on various case studies, Mr.Ueda identified 3 principles – ecological, institutional, and instrumental – as the key elements for successful management. On China, Mr.Liping Jiang, World Bank Beijing Office Senior Irrigation Engineer, joined the session via videoconference to discuss projects including the Tarim Basin and Hai River Basin. Mr. Takemura talked about Japan’s river law and revisions implemented over the years.
With Tokyo University’s Professor Mikiyasu Nakayama moderating, the second half of the seminar switched focus to the Middle East and North Africa region Mr. Vijay Jagannathan, World Bank Sector Manager for Water and Environment, Middle East and North Africa Region, spoke on “Making the Most of Scarcity – How Water Can Contribute to Growth and Development in the Middle East and North Africa” drawing from a Bank report currently under preparation. Mr.Jagannathan referred to Japan’s experience with water resources management during the course of its economic development, and suggested there might be lessons applicable to other regions.
Commenting from Cairo, Minister Abu-Zeid said, “The report reflects the capacity and potential available in this region and the outcome will give us the opportunity to overcome the challenges we’ve seen from the presentations”. He also added that to make the report clearer to partners in the region, “more rigorous analysis of other considerations such as the cultural and religious values of water, its social, political dimensions and environmental issues” would be helpful. Issues such as food security, dependency on imported water, the relationship between energy and water, as well as south-south regional cooperation were raised by the Minister.
Mr. Takemura concluded the session, pleased that, “Although the river-basin projects discussed today differ greatly in culture and ecology, there were hints to be gained on water resources management by comparing international cases”.
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Videos of presentations by speakers are available here:
Mr.Kotaro Takemura (Language:JP)
Mr.Mikiyasu Nakamaya (Language:JP)
Mr.Liping Jiang (Language:ENG)
