Major event of the Euro-Mediterranean area, the Summit brought together many industry decision makers and the Middle East, under the patronage of SA Princess Soumya Bent Al Houssine. It was an opportunity for extensive discussion on technology issues and sustainable development for the area. At the Summit, Dr. Chaden Diyab did not hesitate to promote green technologies and some French innovations in pollution control and waste recycling. Back in Paris, where she has established her consulting firm, Dr. Chaden Diyab answers our questions about the potential of these innovative technologies, «green" in the service of sustainable development in the Middle East.

leJmed.fr - What is the contribution of green technology in the Middle East?

Dr. Diyab Chaden - To anticipate the management of accidental pollution or waste issues, our first instinct is to initiate steps to protect the health of exposed populations and manage the risk of accident. These actions can lead to costly and cumbersome a procedure, whose implementation has in itself a significant environmental impact and not mastered: CO2 emissions, exposure to chemicals ...

These approaches and technologies are partly adopted in the countries of southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, but unfortunately still all too marginal. There is a real need for reflection on policies for prevention and management of pollution from low-cost methods, using natural resources. This urgency is all the more apparent in the current financial crisis which also affects the Middle East.

Green technologies provide innovative solutions and cost effective. One example is the clean-up by plants - the phyto-management - or the treatment of soil and water with bacteria, the so-called bioremediation.

leJMrd.fr - In Amman, you say you did the promotion of French know-how ...

Dr. Diyab Chaden - Yes! It is a skill unknown to the general public, but it is famous for some actual French SMEs! I presented in three particular technology SMEs "sharp"(Eurobio, Enolys, Biomco) for treatment by bioremediation of pollution by hydrocarbons, management and recovery of agricultural waste, and Phyo-treatment of industrial pollution.

I also emphasized the importance of the technology partnership and explained the challenge for the Mediterranean countries, the control of innovations and their integration in the local context. This partnership is further a real opportunity for SMEs in the North, to capture a growing market, due to their expertise in innovating. This market is currently dominated by large groups, but many opportunities, however, can be seized by French SMEs, given their adaptability, flexibility and responsiveness to the markets of Southern countries. 

leJMrd.fr - In this context, how you position the consulting business of IES EMEA?

Dr. Diyab Chaden - The ambition of IES EMEA advice is to be an "expert mediator", capable of bringing the country's southern and eastern Mediterranean concrete answers for the establishment of their current strategies and future management of environmental issues. IES EMEA is based on my expertise, gained through my experience in innovative companies in the North, with the aim of accelerating the path towards asustainable Mediterranean, and to foster the emergence of "champions partners" in the South, capable green technologies to manage independently.

I am convinced that this approach to the South is a real key partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean. The technology also can be leveraged to create a process of sustainable co-development between our cultures, which for my part I consider also more complementary than is commonly said ...

leJMrd.fr - What is your work in practice?

Dr. Diyab Chaden - The work of IES EMEA with the South is to help municipalities and industry to identify their needs for managing environmental issues and sustainable development - waste, energy, water, pollution. This is to establish a local real strategy, and operational figures, offering an innovative methodology for the management of pollution and resources -energy and water - integrating innovative solutions in the North. EMEA IES helps companies analyze the context related to the local market and available technologies.

I also believe that the integration of sustainable development approaches and technologies to the markets of countries in the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean will participate in a real change and a change in mentality. This dynamic presents an opportunity to initiate a process of co-development, a winning approach to identify new challenges on the basis of dialogue technological, cultural and environmental ... and this too can help shape a future of peace!

Interview by Alfred Mignot for leJmed.fr

(1) - Dr. Chaden Diyab is a chemical engineer and graduated with a doctorate in environmental science from the University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris.
She worked in France for international companies specialized in the field of infrastructure and the environment (ANTEA, EGIS Group, AECOM) where she was responsible for defining the technical strategy, development and partnership.

Dr. Diyab Chaden is the founder of EMEA IES (Industrial Environment &Sustainability), a strategy consulting firm based in Paris and specialized in thefield of environment and sustainable development in the Euromed zone. Dr.Diyab Chaden has worked extensively in the Middle East and Europe on environmental issues (risks and impact of pollution, development of innovative technologies to manage waste and treat pollution ...).

Dr. Chaden Diyab is a member of a working group of the OECD, "MENA-OECD Business Council 'on aspects related to energy, infrastructure and climate change in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) .

The role of this group is to provide guidance and advice to policy makers to promote innovation and green investments in the MENA region. Its role is also to identify and analyze current obstacles for investors and businesses. The Working Group provides recommendations for policymakers, and analysis on the challenges related to energy and innovation in the MENA region.