Nine Israeli high-tech water companies headed by Israel National Water Co. voiced their interests in China's fast-growing water-treatment market at a Water Expo in Beijing on Wednesday.

 

Israel is willing to share with China its wealth of experience in water management and production accumulated over the past seven decades, said Dr. Yehoyada Haim, Ambassador of Israel to China.

 

In response to dry weather and water shortages, Israel has developed a series of high-tech technologies including methods of desalination and irrigation.

 

Booky Oren, board chairman of the Israel National Water Co., said technology is the only way to solve water problems. Currently there are more than 100 water companies in Israel which produce 25 percent of the water consumed in the country.

 

The proportion is expected to increase to 40 percent in five years, said Oren.

 

Israel leads the world in desalination. Oren said there are about 31 desalinators in Israel, including the world's largest jointly funded by Israel's IDE Technology Co., and the Veolia Water in France.

 

Oren hopes more Israeli companies will cooperate with Chinese companies in desalination in the future. "Maybe one day the world's largest desalination factory will move to China," he added.

 

Oren said China's potential water treatment market will offer great business opportunities for Israeli companies.

 

According to Oren, Israeli cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources, the Beijing Water Supplies Bureau and some Chinese water companies is expected to start soon.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2006)