H.E. Abdel Rahim Mohammed Al Hammadi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with H.E. Kim Kyung-hwan Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), South Korea on cooperation in the field of water resources. The move aims to strengthen the collaboration and the exchange of water resource management expertise between the two countries.

According to H.E. Al Hammadi, the UAE seeks to strengthen partnerships with all countries on various issues concerning the environment since it has become a leader in the environmental field. He pointed out that the memorandum encourages partnership between the two sides and will develop bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources and environmental innovations to achieve sustainable development goals and promote the adoption of innovation throughout the environmental work system.

 The MoU aims to advocate active participation and exchange of experiences on policy, laws and regulations, and science and technology in the field of water resources, including groundwater management, smart management of water, and desalination of sea water. It will advance cooperation between the UAE and South Korea on the development of water efficiency policies in the domestic, industrial and agricultural settings as well as draft guidelines for the management of treated water for diverse uses, including agricultural, recreational and industrial. In addition, both parties will use the information and communication technologies in the effective management of water and collaborate on the application of innovation and technology in water management.

 The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water also signed a MoU with South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on March 5, 2015 in Abu Dhabi to strengthen the existing cooperation and mutual coordination on issues related to food and agriculture.