The Ministry of Municipality and Environment began on Monday a workshop with the Japanese Environment Ministry aimed at exchange of expertise on waste management and converting it into energy.
Assistant Undersecretary of public services affairs at the ministry, Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani said that Qatar, under its wise leadership, gives great importance to preserving the environment as one of its main pillars for Qatar National Vision 2030.
He added that Qatar is committed to international standards to protect the environment when it comes to implementing projects by issuing legislation and laws that protect the Qatari environment, human health and preserving various elements of the environment from the risks of solid waste and toxic waste.
He said that out of the ministry's keenness to find long term solutions for a number of environmental issues that have emerged due to economic development, it is in search of the best technologies aimed at minimising the damage caused by economic projects, such as waste recycling which is adopted as a fundamental issue.
He said that recycling contributes to preserving the environment, minimising pollution, conserving resources and energy, reducing consumption, raising the efficiency of productive processes, contributing to saving energy and protecting the land from harmful and toxic substances resulting from extractive and manufacturing industries.
He expressed hope that the co-operation between both ministries results in further co-ordination between them in terms of exchanging environmental information and expertise to achieve sustainable development, in order to prevent the negative effects of the development and industrialisation projects carried out by the state without prejudice to environmental considerations.
The Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs at Japan's Ministry of the Environment, Yasuo Takahashi, said that the workshop is a good opportunity for both sides to discuss co-operation in waste management.
He highlighted the fruitful co-operation between both countries saying the workshop will further enhance co-operation between both parties in many fields related to protecting the environment.
He said that Japan looks forward to strengthening and deepening its co-operation with Qatar in the environmental field.
Assistant manager of the waste management department at the ministry Hassan Nasr al-Nasr said the workshop comes as part of the ministry's keenness to develop recycling.
He said that they look forward to the co-operation with the Japanese side to benefit from modern expertise and the latest developments in the field.
The workshop was attended by Japanese ambassador to Qatar Seiichi Otsuka.
