By Office of Communications and Public Affairs
12 December 2025 – The International Water Association (IWA) Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2025, held from 8–12 December 2025 in Bangkok and co-organised by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) through its Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC), convened more than 3,000 water professionals from over 80 countries to advance water and sanitation solutions for low- and middle-income countries.
Organised under the theme “Water, sanitation, and innovation – pathways to progress and a resilient future”, the eighth edition of this leading biennial event brought together practitioners, utility managers, researchers, experts, government officials, technology providers, consultants, NGOs and academics. The Congress featured high-level platforms such as the High-Level Summit on Water Security and Resilience and the Utility Leaders Forum, alongside more than 100 technical sessions and workshops.
Our theme reflects both the urgency and the opportunity of our time,” said IWA President Hamanth Kasan. “Through innovation, collaboration, and leadership, we can reimagine how we manage water and sanitation to build resilience, strengthen communities, and protect our shared environment.”
“Innovation is not only about hardware; it is also about data-driven decision-making, smart water management, and circular approaches that treat wastewater as a resource,” said AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li, noting that the insights shared at the Congress will help shape future policies and frameworks.
“I am honoured to welcome the international water community to Thailand for the 2025 Water and Development Congress & Exhibition,” added Congress President Professor Thammarat Koottatep of AIT. “Hosting this event allows us to connect global expertise with regional experience and showcase Asia’s innovation and commitment to advancing water solutions.”
The Congress opened on 8 December with an opening ceremony that included the launch of the Asian Development Bank’s 2025 Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO). It also featured the presentation of the 2025 IWA Water and Development Awards recognising outstanding contributions to advancing the global water sector.
Keynote presentations by Jay Bhagwan (Water Research Commission, South Africa); The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak; Yvonne Magawa (Executive Director, ESAWAS Regulators Association); Dr. Roshan Shrestha (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and AITs Board of Trustees Member); and Professor Min Yang (Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) explored opportunities for alternative sanitation, forward-looking water and energy agendas, the role of regulators, inclusive sanitation, and regional cooperation on water-related health issues.
AIT played a leading role in shaping the Congress programme by convening and co-chairing multiple technical workshops with international partners. At the High-Level Summit on Water Security and Resilience on 9 December 2025, Dr. Anat Arbhabhirama, Chairman of AIT’s Board of Trustees, delivered the opening remarks, stressing the urgent need for coordinated action on water and sanitation amid climate change, urbanization, and capacity gaps. He emphasized that universal access requires both innovation and integrated governance, and reiterated AIT’s role as a neutral international institution advancing education, capacity building, and regional partnerships.
Other sessions included, Inclusive Water and Sanitation for Circularity and Climate-Resilient Cities (with SEI), chaired by Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Co-Director, GWSC, with a presentation by Mr. Agus Nugroho, GWSC Chief Operating Officer; and Unlocking Mechanisms for Sustainable Financing for Climate-Resilient and Inclusive WASH (with IsDB), moderated by Ms. Isha Basyal, GWSC Deputy COO.
GWSC also contributed sessions on Digital Tools for Evidence-Based Decision Making in CWIS (with ISPL–Innpact Solutions), moderated by Dr. Sanjiv Neupane, Data Innovation (DI) Hub Manager, GWSC; System Leadership (with IRC WASH); and Co-Designing a CWIS-Centric Transformative GEDSI Framework to Advance Equitable, Safe and Resilient WASH Systems (with ENPHO), chaired by Dr. Vineeta Thapa, GEDSI Lead, GWSC.
In addition, Dr. Anish Ghimire, Assistant Professor at AIT, contributed as a panelist in the session Circular Economy in Wastewater: Innovations in Energy Recovery, Resource Reuse, and Sustainable Treatment, while Mr. Mostafizur Rahman (GWSC) presented on Sanitation and Public Health: Evidence-Based Approaches for Safe, Inclusive, and Standardized Solutions.
AIT further engaged in key side events and high-level discussions, including From Land to Sea: Tackling Nutrient and Plastic at Their Sources, introduced by Prof. Thammarat, and Trends in Climate Resilient Water and Sanitation Systems in Asia and the Pacific, where Prof. Sangam joined the panel “Blueprints for Success” panel. GWSC also strengthened regional cooperation through the China–Thailand Forum on Clean Water Technology Cooperation, featuring a keynote by Prof. Thammarat on Thailand’s water and sanitation practices, remarks by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, AIT President, and a technical talk on emerging microplastic pollution by Prof. Wenchao Xue, Associate Professor at AIT.
Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha received the first IWA Global Sanitation Leader Award for his 37 years of contributions to WASH, advancing safe and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene for all.
IWA President Hamanth Kasan also visited AIT during the Congress, praising the campus “energy” and “vibration” and noting that interactions with AIT’s Young Water Professionals (YWPs) made him nostalgic about being a student again.
The Congress highlighted the power of global collaboration to deliver practical water and sanitation solutions. By connecting leaders from research, policy, and practice, it helped turn innovation into real-world impact for low- and middle-income countries, while strengthening a shared commitment to resilience, sustainability, and inclusive growth amid escalating climate and development challenges.
