World’s largest wastewater firm ready for Sri Lanka entry

The world’s largest wastewater service firm is looking to enter Sri Lanka and help modernise the country’s disposal methods.

“We are the single largest wastewater management company in the world, well-known for green-tech, microbiology, biotech and nanotech innovations,” said Devan Iyavoo (Manager – Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), Malaysia) on 5 April in Colombo.

IWK’s Iyavoo, a member of the visiting Malaysian delegation to Sri Lanka, was addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen during the visiting delegation’s meeting with Minister Bathiudeen in Colombo. 

A 15-member Malaysian delegation led by a VIP-the Political Secretary of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Shahlan Ismail. The team is in town scouting business and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

“We have been entrusted to develop and maintain a modern and efficient sewerage system for all Malaysians. We manage almost entire sewage network of Malaysia’s 87 local authorities except a few states as well as sewerage in ports, etc. Therefore we are the single largest wastewater management company in the world, and we are well-known for green-tech, microbiology, biotech and nanotech innovations. IWK’s valuation is close to $ 1 b,” said Iyavoo.

Iyavoo added: “We recently secured a MoU with the pan-African inter-governmental agency, Water Sanitation for Africa (WSA), to provide sewerage and tech management services in African countries. We have many global certifications to our credit including ISO, Sirim QA, and International Certification Network OHSAS, etc. We won many awards for our service excellence, including the Waterlink Award. We created Malaysia’s modern sewerage system which runs many centralised and mechanised plants. Since we are a wholly Malaysian Government owned firm, partnering with us is far less risky. We are looking to partner with Lankan wastewater projects and ready to help Lankan urban sewerage modernisation as well.”

“Sri Lanka-Malaysia trade and development cooperation has been longstanding. Sri Lanka’s bilateral trade with Malaysia in 2014 was at $ 760 m, an increase of 24% from 2013. In 2015 January to September, total trade was reported to be $ 346 m, according to the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka. We warmly welcome Indah Water Konsortium to Sri Lanka and we are ready to extend our fullest cooperation. Several Lankan private sector firms engage in wastewater management and mostly small scale operations are seen. There is also a great need for modernisation of our urban sewage and wastewater systems. Award winning firms such as Indah Water which also has latest nanotech innovations can greatly help us in this.”

IWK multinational is wholly owned by MOF (Inc.), which operates under the Malaysian Ministry of Finance. Several Lankan private sector firms engage in wastewater management – some even constructing water infrastructure such as swimming pools-and household water supplies are made through State-operated entities. 

Minister Bathiudeen and Malaysian Political Secretary Shahlan Ismail also delved into bilateral development cooperation aspects during the meeting.