In Kyoto Japan, the 80th ICOLD Annual Meeting and the 24th Congress will be held in June 2012. Japan is certainly a suitable place to have a conference in terms of its long experience and new technology development of dam engineering. I would like to invite all the ICOLD delegates and dam experts to gather in Kiyoto and participate in discussions.

ICOLD was established in 1928 to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in dam engineering. It has been encouraging the advance of the dam engineering, not only as regards the designing, the construction and the operation of new dams but also as regards renovation of older dams and environmental impacts or socio-economic aspects of dams.

The climate change and the future energy supply are essential subjects for the world sustainability and development today and large dams are expected, more than ever, as one of useful measures in water resource management, flood control and renewable energy development. Therefore we wish ICOLD 2012 in Kyoto be valuable occasions to discuss the latest technological achievements and exchange relevant information through Technical Committees and Congress Sessions.

Kyoto International Convention Center is renowned for its efficiency and experience of hosting big conferences. It is an ideal venue combined with attractiveness of historical city Kyoto.

We hope many members of ICOLD and accompanying persons to come and join us in Kyoto.