Arab Countries need $200 billion in water-related infrastructure

Jeddah, November 25, SPA -- The Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the
Muslim world's premier multilateral financial institution, estimates
that Arab countries may need to invest up to $200 billion in
water-related infrastructure over the next ten years, in order to
meet the rapidly growing demand for water and sanitation services.


It is estimated that as many as 50 million people still do not have
access to safe drinking water in the Arab world with a further 97
million lacking access to adequate sanitation, according to a report
carried by IDB's web-set.


While only a fraction of the investment requirements is currently
being met by the private sector, IDB sees a greater role for the
private sector in meeting demand for water and sanitation
infrastructure services over the next decade, indicated Dr Ahmed
Mohamed Ali, President of the IDB Group, at a high-level meeting of
the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and
Sanitation (UNSGAB) recently held at Riyadh's Conference Palace and
hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Arab
Water Council and IDB.