Under the patronage and in the presence of the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadli, the Saudi Water and Environment Forum and its accompanying exhibition kicked off, which were organized by the Ministry from February 12 to 14 at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Hall in the Al-Faisaliah Hotel. The event was attended by a large number of local and international experts.
Customer Rights Document and Service Improvement
During the forum’s first session, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Ibrahim, CEO of the National Water Company, presented a working paper in the presence of major local and international companies attending the forum, where he discussed the latest developments and performance trends in the company’s management of change within the water sector, as well as key investment opportunities in the fields of water and environmental treatment. He also highlighted the new initiatives launched by the company to implement the Customer Rights Charter and improve the quality of service delivery to customers with ease and convenience, as well as the importance of raising customer awareness about the need to rationalize water consumption in accordance with optimal rates, ensuring regular maintenance of internal water networks, and promptly addressing leaks that lead to the waste of water resources.
Attracting Water Projects to the Private Sector
The forum discussed investment opportunities for the private sector and addressed water supply projects, the construction of treatment plants, and the assumption of greater operational and commercial responsibilities within the sector. It noted that investment with the private sector will yield several benefits that will benefit the water sector and thelocal economy. Among the most notable benefits are improved water services and network coverage, support for the development of national human resources, and the attraction of private-sector investment in infrastructure—which in turn will contribute to the diversification of the national economy, in addition to implementing automation within targeted frameworks for private-sector participation and the development of capabilities, personnel, and operations.
Solutions and Recommendations for Increasing Operational Efficiency
On its second day, the forum discussed policies for understanding the future vision for the water and environment sectors in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 framework, reviewed lessons learned from international experiences, and discussed change management in the water sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as investment opportunities in the environment and water sectors through projects and partnerships aimed at a sustainable future. Speakers presented solutions and recommendations to increase efficiency and improve operational performance in the Kingdom’s environment and water sectors.
