Denmark to assist SA with water conservation

© Pavel Klimenko – 123RF.com

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Danish Minister for Environment and Food, Eva Kjer Hansen, together with South Africa's Minister for Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, will sign the MoU at the official grand opening of the Danish Business Expo to South Africa on Monday, 2 November 2015 at Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg.

The MoU will be formalised around major current and future challenges in the South Africa's water supply and the subsequent areas where Denmark can provide strong partnership - particularly around policy incentives for water conservation, management practises and water efficient solutions.

"The objective of this MoU is to establish a framework for cooperation between South Africa and Denmark in the water sector. This public partnership will also pave the way for private sector companies in both our countries to partner on smart solutions for water resource management," says Trine Rask Thygesen of the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa.

Market leaders

"Danish companies are global market leaders when it comes to water efficiency and waste water management. As such, these Danish companies have solutions that match South African needs. Therefore, I believe there is great potential for South African-Danish partnerships in the water sector, which will help alleviate the current challenges and ultimately uplift communities and create jobs and growth in both our countries," Thygesen says.

The MoU will include:

• Integrated water resources management
  
• Water treatment technologies and management
  
• Water and resource efficiency
  
• Groundwater protection and management
  
• Water governance and science
  
• Capacity building and institutional strengthening

This will serve as a platform for long-term cooperative relationship on the basis of equity and mutual benefit.
The Royal Visit of Crown Prince Frederik will also coincide with a business promotion consisting of 47 Danish companies spanning three key industry sectors - energy; water and environment; and agriculture and food.

The Crown Prince, Minister Hansen and Minister for Business and Growth, Troels Lund Poulsen, together with the business delegation, will visit both Johannesburg and Cape Town and a considerable time will be spent strengthening commercial relations between Denmark and South Africa.