Business Alliance on Water Launched to Create Public-Private Water Projects

29 November 2005 - New Delhi, India

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the World Economic Forum Water Initiative launched today a new alliance of Indian and multinational businesses for the purpose of improving the availability and quality of water for businesses, communities and the environment in India.

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the new Indian Business Alliance on Water (IBAW) will facilitate public-private partnerships to expand the business community’s engagement in water management projects. It will also be supported by Prem Durai Exports - Switcher.

Through the partners’ extensive networks, the Alliance will promote corporate best practice in water management, broaden business engagement in community water projects, and facilitate discussion among businesses, governments, communities and NGOs to build common approaches to India’s water management challenges.

The Alliance will seek to facilitate three public-private demonstration projects as well as catalyse a wide range of other partnerships that address business, community and environmental concerns in a cooperative manner.

The Indian Business Alliance on Water was discussed at the CII Water Summit 2005, which took place in New Delhi on 26-27 November in advance of the World Economic Forum’s India Economic Summit 2005. A wide range of company, civil society and governmental representatives took part in discussions at the Water Summit on Public-Private Community Partnership in Water Management and expressed support for the Alliance’s creation.

Richard Samans, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said, “India is facing significant challenges regarding water access and quality, and the business community can be an important part of the solution by improving water management efficiency and working in closer partnership with communities and municipalities. The Indian Business Alliance on Water has the potential to make a major contribution in this respect and the World Economic Forum is pleased to support it.”

Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman, CII Green Business Centre, said, “CII is extremely pleased to partner with the World Economic Forum on the Indian Business Alliance on Water. The Indian Business Alliance on Water holds great potential to address the challenges that India faces on clean water access and waste water management. Indian industry recognizes the importance of water management in its quest for greater competitiveness and in spreading its know-how to the larger community surrounding industry.”

For more information about the India Economic Summit 2005, please visit: http://www.weforum.org/india, http://www.weforum.org/indiaindepth; photographs 2005 http://www.pbase.com/forumweb/india2005