Amman:Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud of Jordan and Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah have discussed strengthening collaboration in water management, focusing on areas such as treated water, technology, innovation, and climate change adaptation.
According to Jordan News Agency, Abu Soud shared Jordan's efforts in tackling water scarcity through improved water-use efficiency, expanding the use of treated water, and integrating artificial intelligence and modern technologies. He emphasized Jordan's commitment to enhancing its water management system despite limited resources and increasing demand, highlighting the upcoming National Water Carrier Project aimed at boosting water availability.
Abu Soud also stressed the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of expertise to address water challenges. He recalled Jordan's proposals at the Rome Water Summit, advocating for mechanisms to resolve transboundary water issues and emphasizing the necessity of cooperation to safeguard shared water resources.
Essayah expressed Finland's support for Jordan's summit proposals, particularly on transboundary water issues. She emphasized the significance of international cooperation in addressing water and climate challenges, noting the shared responsibility for water security amidst geopolitical crises.
The ministers discussed organizing international conferences on water, sustainable development, and climate change, and developing a joint roadmap to address global water resource pressures. Essayah highlighted Finland's readiness to expand technical cooperation, particularly in early warning systems for floods and droughts, and encouraged Finnish private sector involvement.
They agreed to establish a joint working group on water management and treated water to explore technical cooperation, exchange expertise, and identify joint projects. The discussions also included collaboration in international water events like the Mikkeli International Water Week in Finland, a platform for exchanging expertise in water management.
Both sides urged continued coordination among institutions to strengthen cooperation and support efforts to address water scarcity and climate change through innovative solutions.