IDRA And Asia Pacific Desalination And Reuse Association Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) and the Asia Pacific Desalination and Reuse Association (APDRA) have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement to deepen collaboration across desalination, water reuse, membrane technology, and integrated water resource management.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for desalination and water reuse investment worldwide. Countries from Australia and Singapore to India, China, and the Pacific Islands are scaling up advanced water treatment infrastructure to meet the combined pressures of population growth, rapid urbanization, and increasing climate variability. Major programs are under way or in planning across the region, and the scale of that investment is drawing technology providers, utilities, financiers, and engineering firms into the Asia-Pacific water sector at a pace that did not exist a decade ago.

The agreement connects APDRA’s regional network, anchored in the professionals and institutions driving that growth, with IDRA’s global platform. Under the partnership, the organizations will collaborate on co-convening stakeholders, technical publications and knowledge exchange, coordinate participation in each other’s conferences and training programs, and hold periodic strategic reviews to identify joint initiatives in capacity building and technical leadership.

APDRA, formerly known as the Asia Pacific Desalination Association (APDA), and IDRA have a history of cooperation. This new Strategic Partnership Agreement builds on that history, establishing a framework for collaboration between two independent associations.

Leadership Statements
Shannon K. McCarthy, Secretary General of IDRA, said:
“The Asia-Pacific region is central to the future of desalination and water reuse, and the professionals working there need stronger connections to the global community. This agreement gives IDRA and APDRA a structure to deliver that, through business and technical collaboration, shared access to events and training, and the kind of regular coordination that turns a partnership into sustained activity. We want our members on both sides to see and take part in what this produces.“

Mr. Li Youqing, President, APDRA, said:
“APDRA remains committed to advancing knowledge exchange and collaboration worldwide in pursuit of water security and sustainable water solutions.”

About IDRA
The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) is a global organization connecting the desalination and water reuse community since 1973. IDRA brings together professionals from industry, government, academia, research, finance, and other sectors working to advance sustainable water solutions.

IDRA promotes desalination and water reuse as important tools within Integrated Water Resources Management and supports the development and exchange of technologies, research, policy approaches, financing models, and best practices that contribute to global water security. IDRA’s international network spans more than 60 countries and provides a platform for collaboration across regions and disciplines.

About APDRA
The Asia Pacific Desalination and Reuse Association (APDRA) is an independent, non-profit organization registered in Hong Kong and committed to serving the Asia-Pacific water community. Formerly known as the Asia Pacific Desalination Association (APDA), which was founded in 2008 with Dr. Masaru Kurihara as president, it was renamed and reorganized as APDRA in 2025. Mr. Li Youqing currently serves as the founding president of APDRA, and Dr. Masaru Kurihara as honorary president. APDRA promotes technical exchange and cooperation in desalination and water reuse and fosters global engagement. Its mission is to empower Asia-Pacific water systems and enhance regional water security through shared expertise and deeper collaboration.