LONDON, England: Sarawak is on track to host the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress and Exhibition (WWCE) in 2028, with preparations already underway and receiving support from global water leaders.
On Sept 24, Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi and his delegation met with IWA leadership here to discuss the progress of the event, which will be held in Kuching.
“Our preparation is on track. We are committed to delivering a world-class Congress and we will also hold another meeting with the Glasgow organising committee for WWCE 2026 to exchange best practices and ensure a smooth transition,” he said.
The minister added that the meeting included updates on the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching 2 (BCCK2) project, which will be the official venue for the Congress.
Earlier, Julaihi also led the Sarawak delegation at the Water Horizons Conference 2025, which took place here from Sept 24 to 25.
Organised by IWA, the conference themed ‘Transforming Utilities for a Resilient, Net Zero Future’, brought together global leaders to explore the latest innovations and strategies for building resilient and sustainable water utilities.
Apart from attending the conference, the delegation also visited Wessex Water’s Operation Centre in Bath on Sept 23.
Wessex Water is widely recognised for its innovation, sustainability and customer-centric service delivery.
The visit served as a benchmarking exercise to gain insights into best practices in water supply management and operational excellence implemented internationally.
Meanwhile, as part of the working visit, the delegation also toured the operations centre of Wessex Water, a leading water utility owned by YTL Corporation, in Bath, United Kingdom.
The visit provided valuable exposure for the delegation to closely observe the latest technologies, modern operational systems, and best water management practices implemented by the company in delivering quality services to their users.
