BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 12. The International Exhibition and Conference on Water Management – Baku Water Week – has come to an end in Baku, Trend reports.
Despite the fact that today was the last day of the exhibition, organized with the support of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency (ADSEA), the event was marked by a lively atmosphere.
Today, the Caspian Water Innovation Forum was held as part of the event. The forum was attended by representatives of state structures, including the State Agency for Water Resources, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Economy, as well as international companies from more than 10 countries and leading scientific and educational institutions of the country.
Addressing panel discussions, Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tamás Torma stated that the two countries are expanding their partnership in the field of water resources.
In his speech, Torma emphasized that universal access to clean water and sanitation is a key element of sustainable development for Hungary and that solving water problems is a priority in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He recalled that since 2010, Hungary has consistently focused its efforts on water issues and expanded regional and international cooperation in this area.
The ambassador noted that the Hungarian water technology sector has accumulated considerable experience and innovative solutions, ranging from groundwater mapping and the design of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems to reuse technologies and digital sustainable solutions. Tormá also emphasized the importance of water diplomacy and argued that water should serve as a catalyst for cooperation, not conflict.
In his speech, the diplomat highlighted successful examples of cooperation: the forum features leading Hungarian institutions and companies—the Hungarian Water Authority, the Drought Prevention Institute, the Hungarian Water Association, the University of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, as well as companies such as Budapest Water World, PURECO, and Gergely Carpathia.
Torma noted that the memorandum of understanding signed this week between the Hungarian Water Authority and the State Water Resources Agency of Azerbaijan is an important step towards practical cooperation.
He also expressed his readiness for further exchange of knowledge and technology, including in the field of sustainable irrigation, precision agriculture, and integrated water resources management, and noted the role of educational programs and specialized master's degrees in training personnel to solve global water management challenges. According to him, the Institute for Drought Prevention under the Organization of Turkic-speaking States, based in Budapest, could become an additional channel for transferring Hungarian expertise to Azerbaijan.
Head of the Cadastre, Accounting, and Registry Department of the State Agency for Water Resources of Azerbaijan (ADSEA), Rafig Verdiyev, stated that as a result of climate change, both local and transboundary water resources in Azerbaijan have decreased by 15-20 percent.
According to him, this means that the total volume of water resources in the country is about 19 bcm.
“The impact of climate change is observed in virtually all rivers. This leads to a decrease in water levels, as I mentioned earlier. If the rise in temperature is not curbed, our water resources may decrease by 20-30% in the future. This, in turn, could create serious problems,” the ADSEA representative noted.
During the three days of Baku Water Week, models of the Zabukh chay Reservoir, the first reservoir in Free Karabakh, and the Shiber water wheel were on display in the foyer of the Baku Expo Center. In addition, Pavilion No. 1 featured paintings by members of the Ümid var Inclusive Creative Association entitled “Baku Water Week 2025 through the eyes of special artists.”
In total, more than 60 companies and delegations from Azerbaijan, Germany, the US, Austria, Belarus, the UK, the Czech Republic, Israel, Switzerland, India, Hungary, Türkiye, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore participated in the exhibition.
The range of products and services on offer is extremely diverse: analytical and laboratory technologies; banking services; pipes, pipeline equipment, and materials; artificial precipitation technologies; flood protection and coastal reinforcement technologies; drainage equipment; research institutes; hydraulic structures; drinking water treatment; water supply and sewerage; construction and drilling machinery and equipment for water management; measurement, regulation, and control technologies in water management; design and construction of water management facilities; information and communication technologies; artificial intelligence in water management; education and scientific research; irrigation systems; water desalination technologies; wastewater and rainwater drainage and treatment systems.
