Contec Global, the UK-based conglomerate with a strong footprint in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) in delivering sustainable AgriTech programmes, has marked a strategic tie-up with Maithri Aquatech, a ldeading Indian developer of innovative air-to-water technology, to bring large-scale sustainable water solutions to the Middle East and Africa.
The partnership aims to deliver a business of over $200 million in atmospheric water generator (AWG) solutions in the region over the next three to five years, said the statement from Contec Global.
Based in south Indian city of Hyderabad, Maithri Aquatech is a company which has developed ‘Meghdoot’ (messenger of rain in Sanskrit), an affordable and sustainable air-to-water solution as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The Meghdoot solution can generate potable water from air on a highly scalable basis going up to over millions of liters per day, without relying on any traditional water sources.
With water being a universal requirement – and the basis for life on this planet, the company markets its products to B2C, B2B and B2G segments and has seen its application across a wide variety of sectors ranging from residential, commercial, agriculture, real estate and health and wellness sectors.
It is the only AWG solution approved by India’s Ministry of Water besides being a part of the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, committed to achieving UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6&7).
The two entities will work together to provide safe, potable, clean water on a sustainable basis, it added.
As per the deal, the duo will focus on capacity building using Contec Global and Maithri’s joint expertise in delivering turn-key AWG projects for drinking water and micro-irrigation in acutely water-stressed areas.
Contec Global has strong business interests in agriculture, energy, information technology, automobiles, and manufacturing.
Through Greenfields, its business that focuses on creating sustainable and profitable AgriTech solutions, the UK group works in many Middle East countries in organic farming, providing bio-inputs that contribute to an increase in agricultural yield and reduces farming costs by up to 60 per cent.
Some of Contec’s ongoing initiatives include converting barren desert land into healthy livelihood alternatives, adopting multiple approaches including water and soil conservation, dryland farming, afforestation, pastureland, and animal husbandry development, and restoring the ecological balance.
Contec Global is strengthening its presence in Middle East & Africa in providing sustainable water solution through Maithri Aquatech’s air-to-water technology, which is already widely deployed by governments, NGOs and private sector leaders.
On the tieup, Chairman Dr Benoy Berry said: "We are excited with this opportunity to showcase an innovative and cost-effective technology to deliver end-to-end water solutions for clients across the MEA. In line with our core focus, the partnership with Maithri expands Contec Global’s offering to cover scalable water solutions that are capable of producing water from air on a mass scale and on a sustainable basis."
"Our solution is best suited to address the freshwater problem, which is expected to assume critical dimensions in the coming years," he added.
Maithri Aquatech Founder and Managing Director Ramkrishna Mukkavilli said: "With the Mena region focused on ensuring national-level food and water security, our AWG solution is ideally placed to meet water requirements sustainably, as our technology creates a perennial and decentralised water generating source."
The air-to-water solutions are suited to address the water scarcity challenge facing Mena region, which has an average water availability per person of only 1,200 cu m per year, compared to 7,000 cu m per year in other regions.
They will also help address the water scarcity problem in the Middle East, where about 85 per cent of all water withdrawals are for agricultural purposes.
"In addition to making countries and communities water-secure, it will have a tremendous positive impact on the environment. Our vision is to be the largest air water company in the world by providing a viable solution to mitigate one of biggest existential problems faced by our planet," explained Mukkavilli.
"Through our partnership with Contec, we are building a global organisation with the best-in-class talent and state-of-the-art production facilities," he added.
 + 10000000) + '&millis=' + new Date().getTime() + '&referrer=' + encodeURIComponent((window != top && window.location.ancestorOrigins) ? window.location.ancestorOrigins[window.location.ancestorOrigins.length - 1] : document.location) + ')
 + 10000000) + '&millis=' + new Date().getTime() + '&referrer=' + encodeURIComponent((window != top && window.location.ancestorOrigins) ? window.location.ancestorOrigins[window.location.ancestorOrigins.length - 1] : document.location) + ')
