The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) assessed the current state of the water sector in the Kingdom, discussed water issues, water uses and the growing demand for water, means to successfully implement the principles of water economics and to raise the public awareness, as well as the important role of water economies in promoting economic growth.
This came during a workshop held today on Water Economics under the auspices of His Excellency MEWA's Minister Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley, and attended by a group of local and international experts.The workshop held at MEWA's headquarters in Riyadh, and included four lectures and a talk-show and featured panel discussions as well.
Dr. Omar Ouda, an expert at the National Center for Water Research and Studies, pointed out that the water Economics is in the center of the National Water Strategy 2030 towards efficient and sustainable water management system in the Kingdom. And that Water Economic Analysis is an extensive, detailed, time-consuming and challenging exercise and requires a comprehensive information gathering from all water sector stakeholders.
Oudah said that water economics analysis can promote the development of water resources allocation plan aims to meat the National water Strategy 2030 vision and goals. He also stressed the need for water allocation study which will facilitate decision-making process.
For his part Mark W. Rosegrant, expert at the World Bank, discussed the topic "Water Economics for Efficient Management and Investment". He also discussed the challenges faces the water sector and role of water economics in addressing these challenges. Rosegrant pointed out that growing water scarcity increases the need for efficient water management and the value of economic tools to support efficiency. And that Saudi Arabia would benefit from using an economic lens to assess and design the incentives for efficient water management, adding that the economic tools for decision analysis would improve the evaluation of new investments and projects. He also stressed the need for a strategic water economic analysis unit which can provide a common framework among concerned agencies to support assessment and implementation of cost-effective water policies and investments.
Christopher Gasson, an expert at the Global Water Intelligence presented " A rough guide to water economics in Saudi Arabia" and talked about the water economics and improving the water sector and its structure in the kingdom. He reviewed eestimated cost of water, water rationalization, regional price comparisons, and the use the cheapest energy. He also proposed measure to improve the water sector including reducing agricultural water demand, improve irrigation efficiency, achieve sustainability and build a national smart water grid.
The workshop came out with several recommendations, including the need to address the water economics in a comprehensive way at the economic, environmental and social level, holding such workshops due to their importance in achieving the National Water Strategy and Vision 2030.
At the end of the workshop which was attended by water sector leaders and a group of individuals and workers interested in the sector, a panel discussion was also held in which Eng. Khalid Al Quraishi, CEO of Saudi Water Partnerships Company, participated with the speakers.