The recently concluded Singapore International Water Week 2010 ended on a high note for many local and international water companies, where the total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders and investments into Singapore and R&D memorandums of understanding exceeded $2.8 billion, up by 27% from last year's $2.2 billion. The event, which was held together with the World Cities Summit this year, also saw a record increase in the number of trade attendees to over 14,000 from 85 countries/regions.
"We are extremely pleased with the positive outcome at the 2010 Singapore International Water Week, which continues to grow into its third year,” said Michael Toh, managing director of Singapore International Water Week. “The continued strong support from participating countries and regions is an affirmation of our vision to be the global platform for water solutions. Despite the uncertain global economic recovery, water remains a key focus area for governments and industries as cities around the world continue to grow at an unprecedented rate with rapid urbanization.
"Many countries continue to seek clean and affordable solutions to meet their respective needs and use the Water Week as a platform for learning, exchange and networking. We are delighted with the significant increase in the total value of announcements during the week. It augurs well for the growing water sector across the globe and in ensuring delivery of water services where needed."
Some of the more significant deals closed at last week's Water Week included the combined $69-million contract clinched by water company Moya Dayen Ltd., from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority in Cambodia for Phase 1 of the Niroth Water Production Facilities Project. Awarded in two contracts, Moya Dayen will undertake the supply, delivery and construction of a 25-meter-high intake tower located in the Mekong River, a raw water pumping station and raw water transmission main, as well as other ancillary works.
Under the second contract, Moya Dayen will construct a water treatment plant that includes treated water tanks, a treated water transmission main and other ancillary buildings. When completed, the Niroth Water Production Facilities - Phase I will be one of the largest water treatment facilities, producing 130,000 cu meter per day of potable water, to serve the greater Phnom Penh population.
During the week, another Singapore homegrown energy, water and marine group, Sembcorp, also signed a memorandum of understanding, worth $280 million to expand seawater desalination capacity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the local front, the company announced that it will develop a new integrated wastewater treatment facility in Jurong Island's Tembusu District.
A local subsidiary of Boustead, a global infrastructure engineering company, was awarded a $21-million contract for the first new water recycling plant in UAE.
Several collaborative agreements were also signed during the week, including the joint development of Optiqua's real time sensor technology by Optiqua Technologies, a subsidiary of Dutch optical sensor company Optisense and national water agency PUB, as well as a joint research and technology testing program to further develop energy-efficient water and wastewater treatment solutions by ITT Corp. and PUB.
Global Water Intelligence also announced its plans to set up its Asia office in PUB's WaterHub, a center for technology, learning and networking and home to many water-related organizations and R&D institutes.
Source: Singapore International Water Week
