[ News listing ](/en/news " News listing") 17 Oct. 2026 Over 300 people gathered in Delhi for the official inauguration of a new Veoliaforce Hub. Members of Veolia India’s executive committee, representatives from the Veolia Foundation’s humanitarian partners, and local teams came together to celebrate this major milestone in bolstering emergency response across the Asia-Pacific region. ## A Unifying Event Alongside Key Humanitarian Partners Among the distinguished guests, **Pankaj Kumar Singh**, Minister of Health, Transport, and Information Technology for the National Capital Territory of Delhi, discovered how the Veolia Foundation’s Aquaforce mobile water treatment units operate before tasting the safe drinking water produced by the newly trained Veoliaforce volunteers. **Kaustubh Dinkar Kukde**, Joint Secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society, was also present to highlight the invaluable collaboration between humanitarian organizations and the Veolia Foundation’s essential services experts. Previous ![Guillaume Dourdin cutting the red ribbon surrounded by Veolia staff under a arch of traditional marigold garlands.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%2C%20Guillaume%20Dourdin%20%281%29.JPG.webp?itok=l1HdCCqJ) Guillaume Dourdin, CEO India, Veolia ![Wide shot of the inauguration stage with David Poinard at the podium in front of the "Launch of the VeoliaForce Hub Asia-Pacific in India" backdrop.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%20Ceremony%20%284%29.JPG.webp?itok=w8eGXBTM) David Poinard, Executive Officer, Veolia Foundation ![Remarks by Kaustubh Dinkar Kukde, Joint Secretary-General of the Indian Red Cross Society, with the official sign marking the launch of the Veoliaforce Asia-Pacific hub in India in the background.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%20Ceremony%20%285%29.JPG.webp?itok=ApbJ_0Fv) Kaustubh Dinkar Kukde, Joint Secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society ![David Poinard, Executive Director of the Veolia Foundation, and Guillaume Dourdin, Veolia’s CEO for India, sitting in the front row and applauding during the official ceremony.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%20Ceremony%20%287%29.JPG.webp?itok=8bLjbdeC) ![Certificate presentation to Veoliaforce volunteers on stage in front of the hub inauguration backdrop](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%20Ceremony%20%288%29.JPG.webp?itok=HUjzVi9c) Next Thanks to its strategic geographic position and Veolia’s strong footprint in the country, the Delhi Hub becomes a rapid-reaction regional base. It enables the strategic pre-positioning of drinking water production equipment and the rapid mobilization of trained staff ready to deploy within hours during natural disasters or humanitarian crises across South and Southeast Asia. With **25 newly trained volunteers**, pre-positioned equipment, and the support of Indian authorities, the Veolia Foundation is strengthening its capacity to act across South and Southeast Asia. Twenty-five Veolia employees were trained during working hours over several days for Veolia Foundation humanitarian missions. Coming from Bangalore, Noida, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Nagpur, they trained to: - **Deploy Aquaforce mobile units:** mastering the setup, operation, and assembly of water treatment stations designed by the Veolia Foundation to produce emergency drinking water. - **Work alongside humanitarian partners:** learning emergency protocols, crisis management, and mission field conduct. Previous ![Trainees in high-visibility vests gathered under a tent in front of a Veolia Foundation mobile water treatment unit](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Training%20%282%29.JPG.webp?itok=k2sw1Vw1) ![Employees kneeling on the grass assembling a technical module on the ground during a practical training exercise.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Training%20%283%29.JPG.webp?itok=08z-4Ize) ![Group of employees in safety vests listening to a trainer during a hands-on workshop around water purification equipment.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Training%20%281%29.JPG.webp?itok=oh1ZIBpv) ![Un expert Veoliaforce servant de l'eau potable traitée depuis le robinet d'une unité mobile dans une carafe devant la délégation.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/carousel/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%20with%20Minister%20Pankaj%20Kumar%20Singh%20%286%29.JPG.webp?itok=Z8TysNbY) Next ## Long-Term Local Roots and Expertise Serving Communities This new hub is part of Veolia Group’s long-standing commitment to India. It complements other strong social initiatives supported in the country, such as the [Medical Mobile Units in Gujarat](/en/supported-projects/mobile-clinics-heal-gujarat "Mobile Clinics to Heal Gujarat") and the [LP4Y (Life Project 4 Youth)](/en/supported-projects/life-project-4-youth-lp4y-sets-training-centers-disadvantaged-young-people "Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y) sets up training centers for disadvantaged young people") social inclusion program. ### Who are these volunteers? ![codant background](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/image/2025/04/background.png.webp?itok=Jq0jE62A) ![Guillaume Dourdin coupant le ruban inaugural rouge entouré des équipes Veolia sous une arche de guirlandes de fleurs traditionnelles.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%2C%20Guillaume%20Dourdin%20%282%29.JPG.webp?h=b19c6983&itok=B-q4pPME) "Building environmental security and protecting essential services is an urgent priority across India and the APAC region. With this new Veoliaforce Hub in Delhi, we are putting people, equipment and expertise closer to where they may be needed, so that we can respond faster when a disaster strikes. India's strategic location, growing disaster-response capabilities and strong Veolia operational footprint make it an ideal base for coordinating emergency interventions across South and Southeast Asia. By combining local talent, technical know-how, and specialized technology, Veolia is ready to deliver immediate, concrete aid when disasters." **Guillaume Dourdin**, Chief Executive Officer, India at Veolia ![David Poinard au pupitre s'exprimant lors de la cérémonie officielle du lancement du hub.](/sites/g/files/dvc3696/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/image/2026/10/2026%2009%20Dehli%2C%20Veoliaforce%20Hub%20opening%20Ceremony%20%282%29.jpeg.webp?h=f4a83400&itok=pOMkpNJL) “Proximity and rapid deployment are essential to delivering effective support during emergency situations. Through pre-positioned equipment and skills-based volunteering, our trained teams provide technical support directly to populations in distress, working alongside our emergency response partners." **David Poinard**, Executive Officer, Veolia Foundation With this new strategic anchor in South Asia, the Veolia Foundation continues to decentralize its humanitarian response to ensure immediate, concrete, and vital aid during crises. This strategic network now extends from North America to the Asia-Pacific region. 🔗 [Learn more about how Veoliaforce Hubs operate and where they are located](/en/humanitarian-solutions/veoliaforce-hubs-around-world "Veoliaforce hubs around the world") ### Ressources [Our Veoliaforce missions](/en/skills-sponsorship/our-veoliaforce-missions) [Veoliaforce skills sponsorship](/en/veoliaforce-skills-sponsorship)