The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) will finance a $40 million water treatment plant in the city of Camagüey, Cuba, providing clean, safe water to more than 300,000 residents.  

 

Financed by the SFD, the project will develop and replace existing systems of Camagüey and neighbouring cities.

 

The project will also meet the sixth United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): ‘To ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.’ 

 

In recent years, SFD had financed seven projects in the Republic of Cuba across the health, water, and infrastructure sectors, worth $139.3 million, in addition to a grant of $9.3 million to build the King Salman Mosque in Havana.

 

SFD had also provided support to the Cuban economy in recent years through the Saudi Export Support Programme. In 2016 it signed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment for $50 million over eight years, to import plastics, metals, and agricultural materials and equipment.

 

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Faisal bin Falah Al-Harbi, the Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Carmenn Hernandez Requejo, Vice-Governor of Camagüey, Bladimir Matos Maya, the Vice-President of the National Institute of Water Resources (INRH), and a number of officials of Camagüey. 

 

Requejo thanked Saudi Arabia for its commitment to sustainable infrastructure projects in Cuba. She said the development of the water treatment plant would have a positive impact on the quality of life in the city, providing access to safe drinking water to more than 300,000 beneficiaries and enhancing sustainable food security. In addition to preventing the spread of diseases and epidemics caused by unclean water.

Al-Harbi commended the Saudi-Cuban relations, and the role that the Saudi government undertakes, through the Fund, in supporting sustainable development that achieves the aspirations of peoples towards a prosperous future. He also stressed that the kingdom's contributions to development take an inclusive approach.  

 

In addition to working with international organisations, the kingdom also provides support to many countries around the world, without political, ethnic, or religious discrimination. 

 

Dr Saud Alshammari, Head of SFD delegation to Cuba said: "This is a significant infrastructure project. By optimising and developing the existing water treatment plant, we will increase efficiency and ensure the accessibility and sustainable management of water in Camagüey, in line with the 6th UN SDG.” 

 

“This project provides access to safe and clean water, and meeting the city’s needs for these services, as the project is part of a comprehensive program for the city of Camagüey to be implemented in several phases, and this project is the first phase of it.”

 

As part of the visit to the Republic of Cuba the SFD delegation also held meetings with Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba and other Cuban officials in order to follow up on projects funded by the kingdom through SFD. 

 

The delegation visits included SFD funded projects in Camagüey, such as the development of the water treatment plant in the city of Cardenas, which provides safe, clean water to 130,000 people; a project to revitalise Old Havana which will raise living standards through the provision of new housing, access to clean water, improved sanitation, electricity, and communication services, as well as redeveloping social centers, and public facilities. 

 

SFD’s delegation concluded its programme with a visit to the King Salman Mosque in Havana, which was built to enhance the cultural and social ties.-- TradeArabia News Service