In their first official pact, Israel and South Sudan have signed a cooperation agreement Tuesday on water infrastructure and technology development. "We see this as a privilege to be the first [sector in Israel] to sign an agreement with the new state," Israeli Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau said in a statement aimed at South Sudan Water and Irrigation Minister Akec Paul Mayom, Israeli newspaper (The Jerusalem Post) reported. The Minister stressed that Israel had "much knowledge and much to contribute" from its experience regarding water and said he felt this was "the beginning of fruitful cooperation." The agreement includes partnership plans between Israel and South Sudan in the desalination, irrigation, as well as water transport and purification fields.