Metito, a Dubai-based international desalination, water and waste water treatment specialist in the region, has joined 18 other companies in an unprecedented statement to the Group of Eight Countries, urging heads of state and Government to take action on the emerging global crisis in water and sanitation. The call to action was made in a letter signed by CEOs of some of the world's largest companies, all of whom are signatories of The CEO Water Mandate, a special initiative of the United Nations Global Compact that was launched by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon last July 2007. The letter cites a recent UN Development report which argues that the costs to sub-Saharan African economies of not having basic universal access to water and sanitation represent about 5% of gross domestic product. The letter also calls on leaders of the G8 countries to take a number of actions, including re-affirming the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goal related to Water in the G8 Summit preparatory documents and in fulfilling their Gleneagles commitment on water and sanitation.