Gerard Van Egershot is President of the Dutch association of producers of materials for construction.

He is also involved in a strategic programme on water and water movements, called “In Our Water” which aims to creating water savings and efficiency cultures in the Netherlands.
For him, to promote circular economy and a sustainable approach of water management, stakeholders have to find together solutions which will lead to an effective working between public and private partners.

In a fast-changing world, whether in ecological, economic or social terms, we come to the 5th World Water Forum with the firm intention to help define new growth models that need to be invented collectively.
With this aim in mind, we are taking part in the Istanbul Forum in order to discuss three issues which we consider to be priority:
- Changing our business lines in order to adapt them to global changes and local needs.
- Research and innovation to serve new sustainable models.
- The place of wastewater treatment, which we wish to resituate as a central priority for cities, against a background of increasing urban development.