The 7th Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition 2019, “Water for All”, organized by RCDN partner Associations SHUKOS and SHUKALB took place from 6-8 November 2019, at the Emerald Hotel, in Prishtina, Kosovo.
The Conference Opening Ceremony on 6 November featured greeting speeches by several distinguished guests to include Valdrin Lluka, Minister of Economic Development in Kosovo , Fatmir Matoshi, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, H.E. Jean Hubert- Lebet, Ambassador of Switzerland in Kosovo, H.E. Christian Heldt, Ambassador of Germany in Kosovo, H.E. László Márkusz, Ambassador of Hungary in Kosovo, H.E Piero Cristoforo Sardi, Ambassador of Italy in Kosovo and H.E. Qemal Minxhozi, Ambassador of Albania in Kosovo.
The Conference Program combined plenary sessions, as well as technical parallel sessions, covering a broad and multi-dimensional number of topics from policy to technical, as well as management issues of the water sector.
The Conference also featured two keynote speakers. On the first day, Patricia Lopez, Senior Infrastructure Finance Specialist, World Bank, delivered a keynote speech on “State of the Sector and Access to Water”. The second day, Philip Weller, Head of Technical Secretariat, International Association of Water Supply Companies in Danube River Catchment Area, delivered a keynote speech on “Water Security and Crisis Management”.
At the plenary session on “Collaborative approach of the Associations of Water Utilities and Local Government in Capacity Development Delivery”, moderated by Elton Stafa, RCDN Knowledge Manager from NALAS, the following conclusions were drawn:
- Enhancing the managerial and operational capacities in the water services sector is a necessity for the improvement of the quality of the services rendered to the citizens.
- Collaborative approach between Association of Kosovo Municipalities and Water and Wastewater Works Association of Kosovo as well as between the Municipalities and Regional Water Companies brings an added value, since it creates the opportunity of open and direct cooperation between the relevant actors offering the services.
- Thus the Regional Capacity Development Network RCDN is an excellent platform, where its members AKM and SHUKOS continue to strengthen the capacities and improve the legal and institutional framework in the water and sanitation services sector.
The Conferences also included The Young Water Professionals (YWP) Forum, an open platform for university students and young water professionals (under 35 years old), who are working in in the water supply and sewerage sector.
In addition, a Technical Exhibition was organized, where over 25 private companies showcased their very latest products, from pipes, pumps, meters, software to engineering and management services.
