MUSCAT, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- The activities of the Ministerial Forum on Water of the Group of 77 (G-77) adopted recommendations on Wednesday on boosting cooperation among the countries of the South in the field of water conservancy.
Participants in the just-ended forum agreed on exchanging technical expertise, enhancing scientific and technological cooperation in the domains of water resource management, and developing desalination and sanitation projects in the member countries.
The forum outlined plans for improving access to safe drinkable water and irrigation water, expanding the sanitary drainage systems, enhancing the hydropower projects with a view to achieving sustainable development and alleviating poverty.
Despite progress made by the G-77 member countries towards providing larger numbers of their citizens with safe drinkable water and proper sanitary drainage services, these countries are sill far from the set targets and goals of the UN development millennium, the conferees noted.
Insufficient funds and inefficient management constitute the main obstacles facing the G-77 member countries in this domain, they agreed.
They renewed commitment to enhance cooperation and increase contacts in order to exchange information and expertise and employ the latest techniques of water conservation.
They highlighted the importance of the electronic networking among the water research centers and institutions of the member states as well as the concerned regional organizations in a bid to enhance information exchange.
They agreed to bolster up the strategic partnerships between the countries of the south in this domain and make better use of their human and material resources.
They recommended adoption of policies of self-sufficiency in financing the projects of water conservancy such as construction of dams and hydropower plants, digging of canals, and expansion of drainages systems.
They also suggested enhanced contacts with regional and international financial institutions to facilitate pumping of more funds to such projects.
The water conservancy is key to food security and sustainable development in the G-77 member countries, the conferees affirmed.
They agreed to held meet on an annual basis in order to tackle the main issues in that field and implement the related initiatives.
G-77 was established on June 15, 1964 as a grouping for the developing countries pursuant to the "Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries" which was issued at the end of the first United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. The three-day G-77 Ministerial Forum on Water started on Monday, February 23. (end) ahr.gb.
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