Singapore has been faced with a fast growing economy, a growing population and increasing urbanization, which demanded great vision for sustainable water-solutions for the future.
By now, the city-state of Singapore has turned the water-challenges she had to cope with, into an engine of growth. Singapore invested early on in research and development to build a strong foundation in water technologies and water management. This strategy has paid off and Singapore aims to be a global Hydrohub in 2015.

Singapore developed the strategy of the four national taps: water from local catchments, imported water, treated water called NEWater and desalinated water. With these diversified sources, Singapore’s water- supply is safeguarded for the years to come.

Many other ASEAN-countries are battling the same challenges. Growing economies, industrialization and urbanization put pressure on the water supply. Access to clean drinking water is not available for millions. Climate change brings either water in floods or no water at all. Dry wells, pollution, floods, permanent low-tides, intrusion of saline water, poor sanitation are only a few of the challenges, ASEAN-countries face.

To be able to safely live in the low lying delta that is the Netherlands, the Dutch have had to become skilled water managers. Over the years the Dutch have reclaimed land, increased their freshwater resources, made drinking water safe, and made it possible to re-use wastewater. And the Netherlands has been exporting this know-how for the benefit of others for years.

The NWH, as a representative office of the Netherlands Water Partnership, clusters Dutch water sector activities in Singapore and the other ASEAN-countries, and is a single point of contact for the region. Its main focus is on bringing potential partners together from the private sector, the public sector, research and knowledge institutes and from various national platforms for  cooperation, collaboration or exchange, to solve the challenges we face in today’s world.

The main pillars of the NWH are:
•    Facilitating introductions to the right potential partners
•    Providing information
•    Establishing a strong network
•    Promoting education and research exchange with ASEAN and the Netherlands