Water is life, but it is increasingly becoming big business.
At a moment when global investments in water infrastructure are expected to triple within a decade, Europe is stepping forward to shape this transformation via its Global Gateway initiative.
It is in this context that a Strategic Business Workshop on Water took place on 18 March in Brussels, co-organised by EFCA, the European Commission (DG INTPA), the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Federation of National Associations of Water Services (EurEau) and WaterEurope. The event brought together numerous industry leaders, experts, innovators and public sector representatives, for a full day of analysis and knowledge-sharing. More than 20 representatives from EFCA member companies were among the attendees, including the CEO of SUEZ Europe.
From the outset, the challenge had been clear: despite its essential role in agriculture, climate resilience and public health, the water sector in Africa, Asia and Latin America still attracts far less private investment compared to other crucial sectors, such as energy or transport. Moreover, Europe risks being left out in this new race by investors from other continents.
This workshop aimed to shift that dynamic by fostering discussions under Chatham House rules on how to unlock financing, reduce risks and strengthen global partnerships for European companies. Many of these discussions took place via dynamic world-café-style sessions, where participants explored key business models, including concessions and licenses, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tenders, or private proposals. Participants highlighted both the challenges of doing business in third countries – such as unclear or weak regulatory frameworks and financing constraints – and Europe’s competitive advantages, from best-in-class engineering to integrated water management practices and recognised standards. The energy in the room reflected a shared ambition that Europe must be involved not only in building sustainable and resilient water infrastructure but also in sharing knowledge and implementing long-lasting, high-quality services that will benefit all communities.
These discussions marked an important step towards turning water from a ‘hidden’ global challenge into a strategic opportunity for Europe’s industry and its partners worldwide. As the work on this topic continues, our federation remains committed to supporting its members in making the water sector investments a success story of the EU’s Global Gateway.
EFCA was represented during the workshop by Sue Arundale, its Director General, Nicolas Chomel, the chair of EFCA’s External Action Committee (both pictured above) and Mihai Barcanescu, Policy Manager.