THE FUTURE OF WATER – INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGES

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As a result, we have reached full capacity and are no longer accepting registrations.

In 2026, under the auspices of the Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation, Planet Budapest — Central Europe’s most significant experience-based exhibition on sustainability — will once again be held. On the 27th of February the Hungarian Water Partnership brings together 200 global experts - presidents and executives of leading national and international water associations, policymakers, regulators, financiers. It offers a unique opportunity not only to engage in substantive discussions on pressing global water issues but also to establish new partnerships, strengthen networks, and exchange best practices with peers from across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

The Forum will provide space for dialogue on water sector reforms, global challenges, financing, and resilience-building, complemented by a signing ceremony, curated networking opportunities, and a guided visit to Planet Budapest 2026’s immersive exhibition.

THE FUTURE OF WATER –

INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGES

27TH OF FEBRUARY 2026

Agenda

8:00 - REGISTRATION

9:00 - WELCOME WORDS

• János Áder - Former President of Hungary, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Blue Planet Foundation

  • From the Budapest Water Summits to the Present: African Developments of the Hungarian Water Industry

• François Olivier Gosso - Executive Director of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA)

  • Strengthening ties with the Hungarian Water Industry 

• Dr Károly Kovács - President of the Hungarian Water Partnership

  • Challenge – Solution – Experience: The Hungarian Water Industry’s Success Stories

09:30 – 11:00 - INTRODUCTION OF THE HUNGARIAN WATER AND SANITATION SECTOR FROM RISK MITIGATION TO VALUE-BOOSTING SOLUTIONS

• Dr András Szöllősi-Nagy - Doctor of Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Water Conflict Management, Secretary General of the Paris-based UNESCO International Hydrological Programme, Rector of the UNESCO-IHE Institute of Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands

• Dr Károly Kovács - Hungarian Water Association (HWA), President 

  • Hungarian Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Developments

• Bálint Horváth - Hungarian Water Partnership, Secretary-General 

  • Hungarian Water Sector Innovations Beyond Borders

• ​H.E. Dr Kwame Ampofo - Embassy of Ghana in Budapest, Ambassador

• Péter Kovács - Water Director of Hungary - Hungarian General Directorate of Water Management

  • Hungarian General Directorate of Water Management 

11:30 – 13:00 - SESSION 1: GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGES

• Keynote speech 1: Dr Csaba Kőrösi - Blue Planet Climate Protection Foundation, Strategic Director and former UN General Assembly President 

Is a Water Secure World a Realistic Goal in the Midst of Accelerating Climate Change?

• Keynote speech 2: Emília Kapás - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Head of Department, Department for Water Diplomacy and Tied Aid 

Hungarian contributions to solving global water challenges 

• Panel 1 - Discussion on global water challenges

• Moderator: Dr Károly Kovács - Hungarian Water Partnership, President

• PANEL SPEAKERS:

  • Dr Harsha Ratnaweera – European Water Association (EWA), President

  • François Olivier Gosso - African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA), Executive Director

  • Géza Csörnyei - Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance, Member of the Steering Committee and Budapest Water Works, CEO

  • Dr Rose Christine Kaggwa - African Water and Sanitation Academy (AWASA), Director

  • Zhang Rui - ASEMWater, Deputy Director

13:00 – 14:00 - BUSINESS LUNCH AND NETWORKING

14:00 – 16:00 SESSION 2: FINANCING SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGES​

• Panel 2 - Funding for projects supporting SDG 6 - discussion on traditional and emerging private capital project financing models

  • Keynote speech: Raimund Mair - World Bank, Sr. Water Resources Management Specialist - Water, Europe and Central Asia

  • Keynote speech: Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong - Jospong Group of Companies, Chairman

  • Moderator: Bálint Horváth - Hungarian Water Partnership, Secretary General

  • PANEL SPEAKERS:

    • Àdám Csécsei - EXIM Bank, Deputy Director | ESG & Sustainable Finance Centre | Driving responsible investment and sustainable growth

    • Stefania Ciraolo - European Investment Bank, Head of the EIB Group Office in Hungary

    • Raimund Mair - World Bank, Sr. Water Resources Management Specialist - Water, Europe and Central Asia

    • Adam Mutawakilu - Ghana Water Ltd., Managing Director 

• Panel 3 – Funding opportunities - best practices and lessons learned by national and regional associations and their case studies - messages for the post-2030 development framework

  • Keynote speech: Dr. László Örlős - Drought Prevention Institute, Operational Director 

  • Moderator: Oliver Nachevski - IWA Strategic Asset Management, Chair and Engineers without Borders Macedonia Chapter, President

  • PANEL SPEAKERS:​​

    • Dr Myungsoo Yoo - Korean Water and Wastewater  Works Association (KWWA), Vice-President

    • Dr Nicoleta Sanda Brisan - Representatives of ECO-Innovation Cluster for SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT (CLEMS), President 

    • Teodor Popa - International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube River Catchment Area (IAWD), Vice-President

16:10 - CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS

16:30 - GUIDED VISIT OF THE PLANET Budapest 2026

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