Veolia is expanding its emergency response capabilities in Asia by opening a new VeoliaForce Hub in New Delhi, as climate-related disasters rise and water security becomes an urgent concern. The hub will accommodate mobile water-treatment units and train an initial group of 25 employees to deploy and manage them in disaster-affected areas throughout South and Southeast Asia. In this conversation with The Economic Times Digital, David Poinard, Executive Officer, Veolia Foundation and Guillaume Dourdin, CEO, Veolia India discuss the investment behind the initiative, the role of businesses in building climate resilience, and how India could become a regional base for emergency water infrastructure manufacturing. Edited excerpts.
Economic Times (ET): Why has Veolia chosen New Delhi as the base for its new Asia-Pacific VeoliaForce Hub, and what specific capabilities and investments are you putting in place to make India a regional centre for emergency response across South and Southeast Asia?
