Hijjah 02, 1431, Nov 08, 2010, SPA -- A Symposium on " Prospects of scientific and technical cooperation between UAE and Switzerland in the field of water" was held today at the Higher Colleges of Technology - Abu Dhabi. The symposium was held on the occasion of the launch of the "Emirati-Swiss Friendship Platform" in cooperation with the Higher Colleges of Technology, the St. Gallen (Switzerland) and the Embassy of Switzerland in the United Arab Emirates. The symposium dealt with the upcoming challenges facing the sphere of Water in the Region in terms of analysis, solutions, actions, according to a report of the UAE news agency "WAM". Water has long been a key factor in the Emirates' economic development from a string of pearl-diving and fishing-villages to a financial centre and logistic hub of global importance.