KATHMANDU: The South Asia Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) today organised a daylong regional conference on 'Rivers as Lifeline for South Asia' to manifest the importance of rivers and shared water resources.
Every year the International Day of Action for Rivers is marked on March 14 globally.
The conference was jointly organised by FNF in collaboration with the German Embassy Kathmandu, Samriddhi Foundation, and German-Nepal Friendship Association in Kathmandu.
The attendees of the programme included a delegation of the German Group of Liberal International (DGLI), and current and former members of parliament.
The conference aimed to foster regional dialogue, cooperation, and connection to build networks of stakeholders in order to strengthen regional transboundary collaboration. During the conference, international experts from eight Asian countries as well as from Europe and the Tibetan community deliberate on challenges and opportunities offered by water resources and ways to promote river diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
Prakash Sharan Mahat, former Minister for Energy of Nepal inaugurated the conference along with Dr Carsten Klein, Head of FNF South Asia, Dr Stephan Russek, Deputy Chief of Mission of the German Embassy in Nepal, and Juergen Martens, President of the DGLI. Former Minister Mahat said the abundance of water resources, directly and indirectly, contributes to the flourishing of human civilisation in South Asia. However, weak management and cooperative mechanisms at the national and regional levels substantially hamper the region's development.
"We need to harness the untapped hydropower energy potential for meeting our agricultural, industrial, and social needs. Above all, shared resources through effective regional cooperation will foster peace in the region and will attract substantial investment across the region, which can help South Asian countries to foster transboundary cooperation to counter growing challenges of climate change, water scarcity, food security, trade and create opportunities for generating wealth and employability for its citizens," Mahat expressed.
The minister’s remarks set the tone for expert sessions on Transboundary Water Cooperation and Hydro-Politics, River and Economy: Agriculture, Energy and Trade as well as Future of Rivers and Impact of Climate Change.
At the end of the conference, Dr Carsten Klein thanked all the distinguished panellists and attendees for participating in the conference and contributing to this very crucial topic.
The conference will be followed up on 16 March by field visits to projects of significance for the riverine economy together with all delegates.
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Prakash Sharan Mahat, former Minister for Energy of Nepal inaugurated the conference along with Dr Carsten Klein, Head of FNF South Asia, Dr Stephan Russek, Deputy Chief of Mission of the German Embassy in Nepal, and Juergen Martens, President of the DGLI. Former Minister Mahat said the abundance of water resources, directly and indirectly, contributes to the flourishing of human civilisation in South Asia. However, weak management and cooperative mechanisms at the national and regional levels substantially hamper the region's development.
"We need to harness the untapped hydropower energy potential for meeting our agricultural, industrial, and social needs. Above all, shared resources through effective regional cooperation will foster peace in the region and will attract substantial investment across the region, which can help South Asian countries to foster transboundary cooperation to counter growing challenges of climate change, water scarcity, food security, trade and create opportunities for generating wealth and employability for its citizens," Mahat expressed.
The minister’s remarks set the tone for expert sessions on Transboundary Water Cooperation and Hydro-Politics, River and Economy: Agriculture, Energy and Trade as well as Future of Rivers and Impact of Climate Change.
At the end of the conference, Dr Carsten Klein thanked all the distinguished panellists and attendees for participating in the conference and contributing to this very crucial topic.
The conference will be followed up on 16 March by field visits to projects of significance for the riverine economy together with all delegates.
READ ALSO:
Published Date: March 15, 2023, 12:00 am
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