As part of a business seminar led by the Israeli Commercial office in Bucharest, the Romanian water corporation Raja Constanta signed a cooperation agreement with Jerusalem’s water utility Hagihon and Israeli water management company Utilis.

According to the agreement with Hagihon, professional bilateral delegations will travel to both countries and Hagihon will help the Romanian company, Raja Constanta, to prepare for various challenges – above all the reduction of water loss. Utilis will help Raja Constanta identify underground leaks by using its specialized satellite technology.

The seminar was held in Constanza, along the shores of the Black Sea, and marks the peak of a process that lasted for six months. As part of this process, the Israeli Commercial office in Bucharest worked jointly with Israel NewTech at the Division for Foreign Investment and Industrial Cooperation at the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the Israel Export Institute to identify the technologies relevant for the needs of the Romanian water utility, including treatment of drinking water, identifying and managing leaks, energy conservation, increasing the company’s efficiency and more. A delegation from the Romanian company visited Israel in the beginning of April and met with a large number of companies as well as as the water utility corporations Mey Shikma (which operates in the Israeli municipalities of Beit Dagan, Azor, Or Yehuda and Holon) and Hagihon (Jerusalem).

As a result of the visit, nine companies specializing in novel technologies for water treatment, leak discovery and prevention, sewage, valves and advanced equipment were invited to the seminar. Apart from the hosting company, twelve other Romanian water utility operators attended, jointly responsible for handling the water needs of half the Romanian population (some 8 million people), as well as private Romanian companies in the water industry.

The Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry’s Trade Representative in Romania, Commercial Attaché, Mr. Matan Safran, said: “About half of Romania’s population is not connected to central drinking water and sewage treatment networks. As a result, the EU has earmarked €4 billion for the issue through 2020.

“€400 million was budgeted to Raja Constanta alone, Romania’s leading water utility operator. In light of the demands and Raja’s key role, the Israeli trade mission initiated contact and began a process that culminated in this event. Exposing Israeli water technologies to the Romanian market through this company is the entry point to a market with unlimited potential. The massive presence of major local players at the event will help leverage, I believe, the Israeli companies’ technologies for other water utility operators as well. Signing an agreement of cooperation with Hagihon will create a permanent ‘bridge’ for sharing information, knowledge and technology between both countries. I would like to congratulate Hagihon for their strategic overview and dedicated approach to this process. I am certain that we can help more Israeli companies enter the Romanian market, which is in need of new technologies, and embrace Israeli technology and know-how.”

Adi Yefet, Head of the Water Sector at Israel NewTech, said: “This agreement in Romania is one of many such endeavors conducted across the world with the cooperation of the ministry’s trade missions and the Israel Export Institute. This event is very impressive in light of the needs, potential and funds Romania receives from the EU in the field of water management.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)