Summary of the Budapest Water Summit 2019

Over the course of the three days, more than eighty speakers participated in ten plenary sessions, and on the margins of the event, an additional sixteen water-themed side events were waiting for the participants on the spot. The aforementioned sessions have discussed problems such as the possibilities for preventing water crises, the costs of a potential crisis, the background of mass migration due to water-related problems, the opportunities for increasing investments in the water industry. Moreover, technological innovations, as well as scientific solutions and areas of their application have also been covered.

The Summit, hosting more than 2400 participants from 118 countries, was attended by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, 28 Ministers, 6 Deputy Ministers and 5 State Secretaries. Furthermore, several international organisations and six multilateral development banks have been represented at managerial level, including the President of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank.

Furthermore, the message of Pope Francis - personally addressed to the President of the Hungary himself – and a video message of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres welcomed the assembled guests.

At the most important diplomatic event of the year about 130 bilateral meetings took place amongst high-level participants. In addition, a number of bilateral Memorandum of Understandings were signed between Hungary and its partners, for example Cyprus, Thailand and Cabo Verde. Moreover, Water Impact Fund, the first European water fund was launched with HUF 5 billion initial capital under the management of Susterra Capital Partners Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt. and with the investment of MFB Invest Zrt., a member of the Hungarian Development Bank Group. Furthermore, the Global Green Growth Institute has decided to move its European Central Office from London to Budapest.

As part of the Summit, at the "Digital and Nature-based Sustainable Solutions Expo" (BWS 2019 Expo) more than 30 exhibitors from the Hungarian water industry have presented their innovative solutions for managing water crises. In the framework of the exhibition, nearly 700 business meetings were held between a total of 96 Hungarian and foreign companies. The second and third days of the event were open for the public without prior registration and received nearly 1000 visitors.

Several cultural programmes took place on the margin of the Budapest Water Summit 2019. The theme of the reception and gala concert, held in the Palace of Arts, was built on classical and folk music related to the topic of water. In addition to the representatives of Hungary, many foreign delegations’ high-ranking members attended the event. On the second day of the Summit, as part of a Wine Presentation 5 different Hungarian wines were served, all produced by award-winning winemakers from the most outstanding wine regions of the country. The tasting experience was coloured by the folklore performance of the Bem Folk Dance Ensemble accompanied by the Tarsoly Orchestra.

The key outcome of the meeting was a document entitled “Budapest Appeal,” prepared by the International Programme and Drafting Committee. The document identifies priority areas on water security and outlines concrete recommendations and solutions for the international community to consider at relevant international fora, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 2021 World Water Forum, and the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

The Plenary Programme of the Budapest Water Summit 2019 was closed by the speech of H.E. Mr Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary on 17th of October.