Havana, Cuba.-More than 14 countries, and several United Nations (UN) agencies, are participating in the 2nd International Convention on Water Resources, Cubagua 2017, opened today in this capital.

France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, China, Denmark, Mexico, Germany, Canada, Spain, and the United States are among the participating nations. The number of participants in this edition exceeds from 42 in 2015 to 57 this year.

Cubagua 2017 includes four theoretical events: the 13th International Congress on Hydraulic Engineering, the Ninth Seminar on Integral Water Use, the 2nd Technical-Commercial Symposium and the 1st Workshop on Integrated Management of Watersheds, on occasion of 20 years of existence of the National, Territorial and Specific Councils of Hydrographic Basins.

About 162 papers will be discussed in the theoretical events from today to Friday, March 24th, at the Conference Center in Havana. Visits to the Mariel Special Development Zone and the Albear aqueduct, in addition to the awarding ceremony of the Prize to the International Technological Innovation, are included as collateral activities.

Issues such as water supply and environmental sanitation, maintenance of hydraulic works, the use of water by the population, industry, agriculture, and power generation will focus the analysis of the conclave.

Cubagua 2017 -in which China is participating as a guest country- will have a high-level panel attended by representatives of UN agencies, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Representatives of funds from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which provide financing for water development programs in Cuba, will also participate.

The agenda of Cubagua includes a Technical Business Symposium at Pabexpo exhibition center.