Ramallah: Minister Ghunaim met on Monday with Ms. Astrid Wein, the Austrian Representative in Palestine, to discuss the new cooperation programs and plans to develop work on strategic projects.

The meeting focused on the new Austrian Government-funded institutional support program for the Water Authority, the program implementation mechanisms and targeted support areas, and monitored actual needs to enhance technical and administrative aspects of this program.

Eng. Ghunaim explained that Water Authority seeks to develop the institutional aspect by developing the necessary programs and plans and training qualified staff to work in various circumstances, emphasizing the Austrian Government's role in providing programs supporting these aspects.

For her part, Ms. Wein stressed that developing the institutional aspect contributes to reducing the challenges facing the water sector, stressing Austria's keenness to support the Water Authority's orientations and projects aimed at developing this vital sector.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to prepare a comprehensive program plan and set priorities in line with the Water Authority plans.