Her Excellency, Dr. Mariam Al Shenasi, the Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Environment & Water, has honored the participants at the systems and techniques of integrated management of saline water session,
which was organized in collaboration with the International Centre for Saline Agriculture during October 15th-18th, 2012, at the Center headquarters in Dubai.
Her Excellency pointed out in her speech, that such sessions and courses are important for environmental development, explaining that such saline farming systems have been used in ancient civilizations, especially in Mesopotamia, and the scarcity of water resources in our region had to seek refuge in the search for new sources and technologies, and to take advantage of strategic partnerships with international organizations that promote projects and development programs, including the development of national cadres in the country in the field of transport systems and technologies that the center of saline agriculture has reached, where this session is considered as the beginning of training programs to raise the national awareness of various national departments and local authorities staff, in addition to the Ministry staff, thus including as well the staff of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Sharjah Municipality staff, and the staff of the Department of Municipality and Planning in Ajman.
Her Excellency also noted that she is pleased with the importance of linking the session recommendations with the Ministry strategy, performance indicators, and the importance of performance measurement. She also urged the participants to apply the knowledge acquired from the session and convert it to work systems and methodologies that can produce positive output.
Dr. Asmahan Al Wafi, the Director General of the International Center for Saline Agriculture, noted that the development of technical capacities tops the center priorities to develop knowledge and experiences. She also illustrated the importance of the strategic partnership in the planning, implementation and evaluation between the center and the Ministry of Environment water, noting that the Center is considered as the scientific and technical subdivision that complement the role of the Ministry and other government institutions in the sustainable development and contributes to enhancing the efficiency of the use of marginal and saline water resources in the production of food for the people. The center is preparing -in cooperation with the Ministry- for a new session in December, regarding the use of water treatment that would involve the participation of the concerned experts and staff of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.