eThekwini Municipality City Manager Musa Mbhele speaks at the18th World Water Congress in Beijing, China.
Durban will be in the flow of the global dialogue on water challenges in 2025. The city has been selected to host the 19th World Water Conference set for 2025 and which is expected to inject about R340 million into the local economy.
eThekwini Municipality City Manager Musa Mbhele, who is currently in Beijing, China, received the symbolic baton from the President of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), Li Yuanyuan and the Minister of Water Resources in Beijing, Li Guoying. This marked the official handover to Durban.
This event comes at a time when Durban and other parts of the country face substantial water challenges.
“We can confirm that the 2025 event in the city of Durban will be co-hosted with our partners in Sub-Saharan Africa and the African Continent as a whole. This will reinforce our commitment to finding regional solutions to water-related issues,” Mr Mbhele said during the closing ceremony in Beijing.
The South African delegation attending the 18th World Water Conference includes representatives of the KwaZulu-Natal Province and the city led by Mr Mbhele in support of the bid submitted by the Convention Bureau to host this event in Durban.
“The significance of hosting this international conference in Durban cannot be overstated. As the city grapples with pressing water issues, this event presents an exceptional opportunity to address and seek solutions to water-related challenges. It is an occasion to exchange knowledge, promote essential research, and leave a legacy for our citizens,” said Mr Mbhele.
Building upon the success of this year's conference, Durban can anticipate a significant influx of global participation at the 19th World Water Conference in 2025, said eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana. The event is expected to attract more than 3 000 delegates and more than 10 000 visitors, she added.
“The conference promises to be a platform where over 90 exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge innovations in the field. Beyond its academic and scientific significance, the 19th World Water Conference is projected to have a profound economic impact on Durban and its surroundings,” said Ms Sisilana.
“Preliminary estimates suggest that the conference will inject over R340 million into the local economy. This financial boost will not only benefit the municipality but also contribute to broader regional development.”
The South African Ambassador to China, His Excellency Dr Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, who also attended the conference, emphasised the critical importance of water in socio-economic development.
The Beijing Declaration signed at the conference, endorsed by the International Scientific Committee of the World Water Congress, underscores the significance of water as a key resource and the need for global co-operation in its sustainable development through scientific research and knowledge exchange, said Mr Mbhele.
China, as the host of this year's international water event, has pledged to take more practical steps toward water governance. It also plans to share its experiences and strategies with other nations to jointly promote global water governance reform and development.
The selection of Durban as the host city for the 19th World Water Conference underlines its dedication to addressing water challenges, fostering global collaboration and positioning itself as a leader in water resource management, said Mr Mbhele.
“As preparations for the event begin, Durban is poised to shine as it takes centre stage in the international effort to secure the future of our planet's most precious resource – water,” said Mr Mbhele.