Amman: Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud on Thursday engaged in discussions with Syrian water officials regarding joint water issues, coinciding with a Jordanian-Syrian technical workshop on integrated water resources management held in Amman.

According to Jordan News Agency, the Syrian delegation included Taher Omar, Assistant Director of the General Directorate of Water, and Ahmad Kawan, Director-General of the General Authority for Water Resources. During the meeting, Abu Saud emphasized the critical role of water security as a foundation for stability, development, and prosperity, particularly in the face of the accelerating impacts of climate change both regionally and globally.

Abu Saud highlighted the urgent need for adaptation measures to counter droughts and floods, cautioning that neglecting these issues could result in severe economic and social repercussions that cannot be solely addressed through infrastructure projects. He advocated for the strengthening of governance, restructuring of water institutions, adoption of international management standards, improvement of groundwater management and protection, enhancement of legislation, and increased reliance on renewable energy. He noted that Jordan has already made "effective and tangible" progress in these areas.

Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) Secretary-General Hisham Haisa provided insight into key aspects of bilateral cooperation, focusing on climate adaptation, sustaining and protecting water sources, and raising water awareness. He emphasized that several joint programs are actively underway.

In response, Taher Omar expressed appreciation for the "warm reception and constructive" cooperation in tackling shared water challenges, and commended Jordan's "prudent" water management strategies in effectively addressing water scarcity.