General Director Of State Hydraulic Works Akif ÖZKALDI

As the world population increases, there also becomes an increase in the consumption of water; and industrialization and the increasing population causes more pressure on world's sources by polluting them. Especially, global warming seen in recent years and the changing climate conditions varying according to it have increased this current pressure on world's water resources. Floods which have caused great number of losses of life and property in many parts of the world seem as a clear sign of climate change.

On the other hand, water shortage has become one of the most important problems in many parts of the world. Nearly 1/3 of world's population live in the countries which do not have enough and good quality water for human health because of pollution and the shortage in the amount of it. Recent researches show that these rates will much more increase in certain parts of the world.

Under these circumstances, water management on a sustainable base is among the most underlying subjects of nearly all countries and at the same time of international society.

Our country, as in the 5th World Water Forum held in 2009 in İstanbul with the leadership of our Ministry of Environment and Forestry and with the coordination of our Directorate General, is ready for sharing and developing its experiences on the management and development of water resources that is one of the most important subject of the global agenda with World water society under the name of İstanbul International Water Forum.

On this opportunity, it is a pleasure and honour for me to invite you to the 2. İstanbul International Water Forum which will be held on 3-5 May 2011 in Haliç Culture and Congress Center under the main theme of "Regional Cooperation for Water" in which water issues will be discussed with all its dimensions.

 Akif ÖZKALDI
General Director Of State Hydraulic Works