Most of the Middle East countries have to tackle water problems as water scarcity becomes apparent. Countries like Yemen and Jordan have the most severe water shortages in the Middle East and North Africa.

A recent World Bank report has claimed water-related environmental problems cost many countries between .5 and 2.5 percent of GDP a year.

Many regional countries need to develop their water industry in order to be able to cope with the future challenges. Nearly 80 percent of all the water that falls in the Middle East and North Africa is used, according to a recent World Bank report. That’s in stark contrast to other areas of the world, such as Latin America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa, which use only about 2 percent of available water in their regions.

Meanwhile, Israel claims to lead the region\'s water industry.

The Israeli water industry includes 270 companies and R&D organizations that employ some 8000 people. Sixty of them are high-tech startups that were founded after 2001.

A survey published by the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment showed that exports by the Israeli water industry grew from US$700 million in 2005 to US$850 million in 2006, and are expected to reach US$1.1 billion in 2007.

Israel is considered as an important player in the global water market which boasts a volume of US$410 billion per year. The Israeli firms play a leading role in desalination plants construction, irrigation systems, recycling and supervision of water resources. (Appeared in the prestigious FT.com GMM website)