RIYADH — Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli inaugurated Monday the 9th International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments, in the presence of King Saud University (KSU) Rector Dr. Badran Bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar. The event, held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, was organized virtually by KSU, represented by Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research; Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation; and Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. The inauguration ceremony of the conference included several speeches, where speakers expressed their appreciation for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince for their huge efforts in making fundamental improvement in all fields of development in Saudi Arabia. In addition they lauded their interest in supporting research centers and universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and patronizing scientific events for their high importance in contributing to realizing the Saudi Vision 2030 goals that are envisioned to the development and progress of scientific research in Saudi Arabia at all levels. The ceremony also comprised a speech by Dr. Abdulmalek Bin Abdulrahman Al-Sheikh, head of the Higher Committee of the Conference, director of the Institute and secretary general of Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW), during which he stressed that the importance of the conference emanates from the conformity of its aspects with international interests that are addressed at the level of organizations, associations and research centers in most countries of the world, mainly water resources, sustainable development, food production, integrity of ecosystems, and climate change. He also delivered a briefing about PSIPW that succeeded in attracting researchers from all corners of the world to apply to it, where several senior scientists won the prize for their creative works that effectively contributed to finding comprehensive and innovative solutions in the water field. Dr. Al-Sheikh also shed light on the role of KSU’s Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research in designing and conducting scientific research and applied projects, mainly in the fields of rainwater and floodwater harvesting and storage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, forestation and preparing global atlases. Subsequently, winners of the 9th edition of the prize were reviewed after the presenting ceremony was virtually held in New York on Monday, March 22, 2021 in synchronization with the High-Level meeting on the implementation of the water-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda. Then, KSU Rector delivered a speech welcoming all participants in the conference whose aspects accord with the directives and plans adopted by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and all arising strategic plans, projects and programs for the national transformation. He also reviewed the role of KSU in preserving natural resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its general strategic plan and excellence initiatives, mainly those pertaining to administrating and developing water resources. The Rector also stressed the role of research centers and scientific research chairs at the university in carrying out scientific research papers on issues related to the environment and water, and publishing them in most prestigious journals. Later, all attendees watched a documentary on KSU and its top achievements. For his part, Eng. Al-Fadhli welcomed participating scientists in the conference, most of them are prize winners and employees at most important international research centers, councils and scientific associations, and thanked them for offering the best of their experiments, scientific research and innovations that are envisioned to contribute to finding solutions to environment and water issues. The minister also reviewed the government’s activities in environmental fields, mainly the water sector that the government paid utmost attention and drew strategic and executive plans for this sector according to the Saudi Vision 2030, so as to build a comprehensive country with sustainable development in all fields, including realizing an environmental sustainability that guarantees preserving the environment and limiting its pollution. Then, he announced the inauguration of the conference sessions that started with speeches by the guests of honor, who included the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Director Simonetta Di Pippo, Chairman of Arab Water Council Mahmoud Abu-Zeid and President of the World Water Council Loïc Fauchon. — SPA