“Israeli water experts visit India, tour water utilities and meet with Indian government representatives and utilities”

The experts from various Water Management companies from Israel visited India during Dec. 3-6, 2012. This visit was a step after an agreement signed in February 2012 between the two nations aimed at fostering cooperation, with a focus on Urban Water Utilities And Management. The delegation was welcomed in India by Mr Yonatan Ben-Zaken, Economic Attaché, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi.

“Israel’s greatest innovations in recent years have come in the areas where India is most lacking, notably waste-water treatment”, said Mr Oded Distel, head of Israel NewTech, who headed the Israeli Water Delegation to India.

On Dec. 3rd 2012, the experts toured the Raipur water system and were hosted by Mr Taran Prakash Sinha, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Raipur. The Indian participants in the Raipur visit were very interested in learning from Israel’s experience in the management of water systems and urban wastewater.

Following this visit, On 6th December 2012, Indo- Israel Consultative Workshop on Urban Infrastructure was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.  The Workshop was sponsored in association with the Ministry of Urban Development (MOUD) and was attended by 50 representatives of urban water utilities from all over India. During the Workshop, the important issues from other state commissioners like fluoride problem, salinity situation, and heavy metals were discussed and answered by the Israeli experts.

The Workshop ended with one on one meetings between the many Indian water professionals, water utility heads and the Israeli water technology companies who participated in the workshop such as Bermad, Ari, Amiad, Mekorot, Tahal, Powercom, LR, Mira Holdings, Aqwise and Arad.

Yoni Ben Zaken, the Israeli Economic Attache in India, concluded, “Raipur is a starting point, but there are 600 more cities in India with a similar urban water situation and needs, so the market potential is very significant.”

For an album of photos from the delegation’s visit click here.