Saudi Prince Sultan Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz in the Netherlands for International Water Prize

RIYADH, Suadi Arabia - On October 30 a high level committee consisting of Chairman Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, prominent Saudi leaders and international academic experts, will meet with the Dutch water sector to discuss possible solutions for today’s global water challenges. In the evening the city of Delft will host a CEO dinner, attended by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange, and a number of leaders of the Dutch academic and business community.

The Prize Council, as the committee is called, is here to present the fourth Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz the International Prize for Water (www.PSIPW.org). The PSIPW is a bi-annual scientific award, giving recognition to the efforts that scientists and researchers around the world are making in the field of water-conservation and other water-related fields. As initiator of the PSIPW, Saudi Crown Prince Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz states: “By honoring creative scientists, the Prize gives recognition to the contributions made to protect one of our most precious natural resources.” UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft will host the visit. Rector Professor Andras Szollosi-Nagy is a permanent member of the council, which consists of 12 leaders with varying backgrounds.

Saudi leaders will speak to a number of Dutch water experts during a roundtable discussion organized by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP). The world faces many water-related challenges, especially in the field of water conservation and efficient water usage. The Netherlands is internationally renowned for its distinctive expertise in water management and water technology.

At 6.30 PM members of the press are welcome for an interview with Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz and the other committee members. The political leaders and experts will be happy to share their vision on solving the world’s water challenges. Afterwards the committee will leave for the City Hall of Delft, where a CEO dinner will take place with a number of Dutch business leaders and scientists, hosted by Mayor Verkerk of the City of Delft.

For soft copy of the Prize brochure www.psipw.org/4th_Award_Brocure.pdf

To view short online video about the prize psipw.org/new/content/view/206/262/lang,english/

About the Prize:

The Prince Sultan International Prize for Water was inaugurated by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz in 2002. Now, as the Prize receives nominations for its Fourth Award; it continues to be an inspiration for scientists, researchers, and inventors.

Expressing his intentions for the Prize, HRH Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz said “By honouring creative scientists, the Prize gives recognition to the contributions made to protect one of our most precious natural resources.”

The Prize, judged by an internationally acclaimed panel of scientists, awards five branches. The Creativity Prize valued at SR 1,000,000 ($266,000) is awarded to a “breakthrough” in any water-related field. The remaining four Specialized Branch Prizes are valued at SR 500,000 ($133,000) each: (1) Surface Water, (2) Ground Water, (3) Alternative (Non-traditional) Water Resources, and (4) Water Resources Management and Protection.

The closing date for nominations to the Fourth Award is 31 January 2010. Interested parties should submit their nominations online before the deadline: www.psipw.org.

Applications are still open to participate in the 4th International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments (ICWRAE) that will take place concurrently with the awarding ceremony of the Prize in Riyadh between 5 and 8 December 2009. All applications must be submitted through www.icwrae-psipw.org.

About UNESCO-IHE

Professor Andras Szollosi-Nagy, recently appointed Rector of UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, is one in four international experts comprising the Prize Council of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water. Prior to his appointment in Delft, the Netherlands, Professor Szollosi-Nagy was Director of the Division of Water, Secretary of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) and Deputy Director-General of the Natural Sciences Sector of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, is the largest international postgraduate water education institute in the world and the only institution in the UN system authorised to confer accredited MSc degrees and promote PhDs. The mission of UNESCO-IHE is to contribute to the education and training of professionals and to build the capacity of sector organisations, knowledge centres and other institutions active in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure, in developing countries and countries in transition. Since 1957, the Institute has provided postgraduate education to over 14,500 water professionals from 162 countries, the vast majority from the developing world. Currently over 80 candidates are registered PhD fellows, and numerous research and capacity building projects are carried out throughout the world.

About the Netherlands Water Partnership

Over 10 years already, the Netherlands Water Partnership has stimulated cooperation and synchronization of all parties that comprise the Dutch Water Sector. A united sector can achieve more in solving global water related challenges. Moreover by offering an integral solution using nation branding, the Dutch increase their position on the world water market. To be able to achieve these goals, NWP organizes and coordinates projects and events in the Netherlands, on an EU level and in the rest of the world.

Media are invited to interview HRH Prince Sultan Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz and other prominent committee members. Time: 6.30-7 PM. Location: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, Delft.

Please register before Thursday October 29. For registration and information contact:

Netherlands Water Partnership: Femke Smeets, Spokesperson +31(0)6-48798081 or f.smeets@nwp.nl UNESCO-IHE: Alida Pham, Communication and Marketing Officer +31(0)6-12974079, or a.pham@unesco-ihe.org General Secretariat- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Mr. Bander Alhassan, Media Consultant Cell # +966555222636

Source: Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water

Media are invited to interview HRH Prince Sultan Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz and other prominent committee members. Time: 6.30-7 PM. Location: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, Delft. Please register before Thursday October 29. For registration and information contact: Netherlands Water Partnership: Femke Smeets, Spokesperson, +31(0)6-48798081 or f.smeets at nwp.nl; UNESCO-IHE: Alida Pham, Communication and Marketing Officer, +31(0)6-12974079, or a.pham at unesco-ihe.org; General Secretariat- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Mr. Bander Alhassan, Media Consultant, Cell # +966555222636