(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
DUBAI, 11th January, 2017 (WAM) -- Suqia, the UAE Water Aid Foundation, has held its ninth board of trustees meeting at the headquarters of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, chaired by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the board of trustees of Suqia, and attended by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Baili, Deputy Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs and Provost of United Arab Emirates University.
Also attending were Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at DEWA, Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation at DEWA, Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia, and Abdullah bin Afira Al Falasi, Acting Secretary of the board of trustees of Suqia.
Mr. Al Tayer welcomed the board members and lauded their efforts and achievements during 2016. He also praised the efforts made by Suqia to promote the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award in international events such as the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties, COP22, in Marrakesh, Morocco, and the 2016 Conference on Research and Technology Development for Sustainable Water Resources Management in Cairo.
Al Tayer said that Suqia would double its efforts in the field of humanitarian aid, in tune with the declaration of 2017 as the "Year of Giving", announced by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is also in sync with the directives of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to create a knowledge-based economy with focus on technology, research and development and innovation to find solutions to the global issue of water scarcity.
"The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award contributes to achieving the National Innovation Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform the UAE into one of the most innovative countries in the world by 2021. Suqia encourages leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete and find sustainable and innovative renewable energy solutions for water scarcity while focussing on young innovators as they account for the largest percentage of participants. This reflects our efforts to enhance the participation of the youth in protecting the environment and sustainable development, in adherence with the national initiative, "Green Economy for Sustainable Development", to build a green economy in the UAE," Al Tayer said.
He noted that Suqia had received 138 applications to contend for the award, 26 of which came from UAE-based applicants. This reflects the commitment of all government and private organisations to achieve the vision of the wise leadership. It also received 14 applications from Egypt, 10 from India, five each from Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands and South Korea, four each from the UK, Kuwait, and Italy, three applications each from Bahrain, South Africa, France, Brazil, Qatar, Japan, Greece and the US, and 36 applications from other multinational organisations.
"The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award has generated huge interest from leading research companies, institutions and innovators from all over the world competing to find sustainable solutions for water scarcity. The achievements made by Suqia during 2016 reflect its commitment towards achieving the directives of the wise leadership to strengthen the UAE's participation in the field of humanitarian aid," said Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia.
The meeting discussed Suqia's latest projects in co-operation with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, including the completion of two boreholes in Ghana during the last quarter of 2016, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 40,000. Boreholes are currently being drilled in Afghanistan, Mauritania, Somalia, Tajikistan, Ghana, Benin, Uganda, Bangladesh, Mali and Senegal to benefit an estimated 53,900 people. The meeting also highlighted Suqia winning the top slot in the Carbon Ambassadors Programme.
Suqia's team designed a water purification unit that operates using reverse osmosis and retrofitted a 20ft recycled shipping container. The system produces 7.6 cu.m. of potable water per day, helping more than 1,500 people on a daily basis. Suqia also contributed to the State of Green Economy Report 2017, which was launched during the Climate Action 2016 Summit. The event was held on the sidelines of COP22. The State of Green Economy Report 2017 aims to promote economic growth in the UAE.
WAM/Moran
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