Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore

Date Published: 28 Jun 2010

Your Royal Highness, Prince Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange from The Netherlands
Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Singapore
Excellencies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to the Singapore International Water Week 2010 and the second World Cities Summit. It is a privilege to be in the company of so many world leaders, experts and professionals dedicated to establishing environmental and water sustainability on a global scale. For those who have joined us for the past two Singapore International Water Weeks as well as the first World Cities Summit, thank you very much for your continued support.

Singapore International Water Week

2 Over the last two years, the Singapore International Water Week has gained significant traction as one of the key events on the international water calendar. We are glad that many find this event valuable. The Water Week in 2009 attracted more than 10,000 trade attendees comprising delegates, visitors and exhibitors from more than 80 countries, and deals totaling S$2.2billion were concluded, surpassing 2008's achievements.

3 This year, more exciting opportunities await us. The theme for this year is "Sustainable Cities - Clean & Affordable Water". With global population expected to surpass the 9 billion mark and 70% of them living in cities by 2050, it is crucial that we focus on one of the most fundamental issues faced by burgeoning cities: to have clean and affordable water supply. There is a mounting need for us to improve efficiencies in the use of our resources including energy and raw materials as well as to address the issues of water quality around the world.

4 Many of you will be familiar with the key events this week - the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and the Business Forums. This year, to further expand our discussion scope at the Water Week, we successfully held the first Asia Pacific Water Ministers Forum and the River Basin and Delta Management Workshop earlier today. We will also be presenting the third Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize to the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC). In just ten years, YRCC transformed China's second longest river to secure supply for over one hundred million people, restored extensive areas of wetlands and biodiversity and protected some 90 million people living in the flood-prone areas of the Yellow River from devastating floods.

World Cities Summit

5 The inaugural World Cities Summit (WCS) in 2008 attracted 800 delegates including 8 Ministers and 47 Mayors and Governors. WCS 2008 also saw the holding of the East Asia Summit Conference on Livable Cities as well as the setting up of the Centre for Liveable Cities and the Institute of Water Policy. Similar to 2008, this year's World Cities Summit and Singapore International Water Week are held during the same week to reap synergistic benefits.

6 The theme for WCS 2010 is Liveable and Sustainable Cities for the Future, and will feature an expanded conference programme as well as a larger exhibition component. With more than 50 Ministers, Mayors and Governors in attendance, and delegates from over 30 countries worldwide, this is a clear indication of the significant role WCS plays in addressing pressing issues and challenges that are common to many cities and countries across the world.

7 The high-level Plenary Sessions will focus on cross-cutting issues around the interplay of people, technologies and markets. They will be complemented by the six Expert Panel Session tracks. Another event highlight of WCS 2010 is the World Mayors' Forum which will provide a strategic platform for mayors to discuss challenges, share experiences, and deliberate on solutions. A Ministerial Dialogue on Leading the Change: Building Liveable and Vibrant Cities will be held concurrently.

8 Delegates can also look forward to the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Lecture by the Mayor of Bilbao (Spain) and the award of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize to Bilbao City Hall by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew tomorrow evening, At this point allow me to congratulate the Mayor of Bilbao and Bilbao City Hall on being the inaugural Prize Laureate.

Closing

9 With all these engaging activities that I have just mentioned, I hope you will have an insightful experience at this year's Water Week and WCS, and be better equipped to build liveable and sustainable cities around the world. I look forward to meeting you and wish you a pleasant stay in Singapore.


	Date Published: 28 Jun 2010 Your Royal Highness, Prince Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange from The Netherlands Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Singapore Excellencies Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to the Singapore International Water Week 2010 and the second World Cities Summit. It is a privilege to be in the company of so many world leaders, experts and professionals dedicated to establishing environmental and water sustainability on a global scale. For those who have joined us for the past two Singapore International Water Weeks as well as the first World Cities Summit, thank you very much for your continued support. Singapore International Water Week 2 Over the last two years, the Singapore International Water Week has gained significant traction as one of the key events on the international water calendar. We are glad that many find this event valuable. The Water Week in 2009 attracted more than 10,000 trade attendees comprising delegates, visitors and exhibitors from more than 80 countries, and deals totaling S$2.2billion were concluded, surpassing 2008's achievements. 3 This year, more exciting opportunities await us. The theme for this year is "Sustainable Cities - Clean & Affordable Water". With global population expected to surpass the 9 billion mark and 70% of them living in cities by 2050, it is crucial that we focus on one of the most fundamental issues faced by burgeoning cities: to have clean and affordable water supply. There is a mounting need for us to improve efficiencies in the use of our resources including energy and raw materials as well as to address the issues of water quality around the world. 4 Many of you will be familiar with the key events this week - the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and the Business Forums. This year, to further expand our discussion scope at the Water Week, we successfully held the first Asia Pacific Water Ministers Forum and the River Basin and Delta Management Workshop earlier today. We will also be presenting the third Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize to the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC). In just ten years, YRCC transformed China's second longest river to secure supply for over one hundred million people, restored extensive areas of wetlands and biodiversity and protected some 90 million people living in the flood-prone areas of the Yellow River from devastating floods. World Cities Summit 5 The inaugural World Cities Summit (WCS) in 2008 attracted 800 delegates including 8 Ministers and 47 Mayors and Governors. WCS 2008 also saw the holding of the East Asia Summit Conference on Livable Cities as well as the setting up of the Centre for Liveable Cities and the Institute of Water Policy. Similar to 2008, this year's World Cities Summit and Singapore International Water Week are held during the same week to reap synergistic benefits. 6 The theme for WCS 2010 is Liveable and Sustainable Cities for the Future, and will feature an expanded conference programme as well as a larger exhibition component. With more than 50 Ministers, Mayors and Governors in attendance, and delegates from over 30 countries worldwide, this is a clear indication of the significant role WCS plays in addressing pressing issues and challenges that are common to many cities and countries across the world. 7 The high-level Plenary Sessions will focus on cross-cutting issues around the interplay of people, technologies and markets. They will be complemented by the six Expert Panel Session tracks. Another event highlight of WCS 2010 is the World Mayors' Forum which will provide a strategic platform for mayors to discuss challenges, share experiences, and deliberate on solutions. A Ministerial Dialogue on Leading the Change: Building Liveable and Vibrant Cities will be held concurrently. 8 Delegates can also look forward to the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Lecture by the Mayor of Bilbao (Spain) and the award of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize to Bilbao City Hall by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew tomorrow evening, At this point allow me to congratulate the Mayor of Bilbao and Bilbao City Hall on being the inaugural Prize Laureate. Closing 9 With all these engaging activities that I have just mentioned, I hope you will have an insightful experience at this year's Water Week and WCS, and be better equipped to build liveable and sustainable cities around the world. I look forward to meeting you and wish you a pleasant stay in Singapore.