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From Water and Wastewater.com Industry News
Close to 10,000 delegates and trade visitors are expected at the event to be held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre from June 22 to 26. Of these, 70% are expected to be overseas attendees. This year’s theme has been expanded with a key focus on infrastructure and technologies across its flagship programs of the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and Business Forums. In line with the theme, the 7th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia Pacific Region, the International Water Association's 6th Leading-Edge Technology (LET) Conference and the official opening of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant will be held alongside the Water Week. Mr. Khoo Teng Chye, Chief Executive of PUB, Singapore's national water agency, and Executive Director of Environment and Water Industry Development Council, said: "With the current challenging economic times, the search for sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions becomes even more urgent. Infrastructure and technology development will be vital, not only to maximise engineering efficiency and investment returns, but to also create jobs. Themed “Sustainable Cities Infrastructure and Technologies For Water”, Singapore International Water Week 2009 will enable policy makers, industry players, experts and practitioners to tap on a global reservoir of refreshing perspectives and economically-viable solutions." Water Expo showcase for the latest water innovations and solutions The Water Expo will feature an exciting plethora of water innovations and solutions from all over the world. To date, close to 90 percent of the 12,000 sq m of gross exhibition space of the Water Expo has been sold. This space is being taken up by more than 140 direct exhibiting companies from about 20 countries including Australia, Abu Dhabi, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Italy, Israel, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America. There will be country pavilions for Australia, China, Europe, Japan, and Singapore. The Singapore Pavilion, showcasing the capabilities of over 50 local and Singapore-based water companies, has been expanded four-fold from 200 sq m in 2008 to 800 sq m this year. About half of the companies within the Singapore Pavilion are first-time participants. “Bucking the trend against the backdrop of an unprecedented downturn in world economy and tough market conditions, Singapore companies are moving aggressively into other water markets and showcasing their expertise and products at the Singapore Pavilion. This is a strong testimony of the endorsement and confidence exhibitors have in SIWW as they see it as a must attend event,” said Mr Khoo. Two new attractions for the Water Expo include the Buyers’ Pavilion and Industry-to-Industry Interactions. A first in global water events, the Buyers’ Pavilion will serve as a valuable platform for buyers of water technologies or infrastructure to share their needs with the exhibitors, discuss business opportunities and forge partnerships. Water and water-related trade associations can take part in cross-industry networking platforms, called the Industry-to-Industry Afternoon Tea, strategically designed facilitate interactions between trade associations and exhibitors. In addition, participants can look forward to the Innovation Corner at the Water Expo which will see the launch of more than 10 new products and technologies this year. “Although this is only the second staging of the Water Week, to stay ahead, we are constantly improving our programmes and offering new value-added features such as the Buyers Pavilion and the Industry-to-Industry Interactions to cater to the evolving needs of the water industry. Judging from the response so far, the Water Week is becoming a must-attend strategic platform for leading local and international players. We expect this year’s economic spin-off to top the S$35 million generated from last year's event,” added Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Singapore Airshow and Events Pte Ltd who is the co-organiser of the Singapore International Water Week. Opening of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant A key highlight of the Water Week is the opening of Singapore’s largest and most advanced water reclamation plant, the Changi Water Reclamation Plant (CWRP), on June 23, 2009 by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The heart of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, Singapore’s used water superhighway, the CWRP ensures the sustainability of NEWater, Singapore's own brand of high-grade reclaimed water. Sited on 32 hectares of reclaimed land, the plant features a state-of-the-art, compact and covered used water treatment facility designed to treat 800,000 cubic metres of used water per day. The CWRP along with the Marina Barrage showcase effective urban solutions which can be adopted by cities facing challenging water supply situations like Singapore. 7th Ministers’ Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia Pacific Region This high-level forum will carry a water-centric theme “Integrating Water Infrastructure Planning with Sustainable Urban Development” this year. Infrastructure and Water Ministers from 19 member countries have been invited. They include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, United States of America, Thailand and Vietnam. International Water Association’s 6th Leading-Edge Technology (LET) Conference Bringing together 300 water experts, the LET conference will feature novel and emerging used water technologies such as nutrient recovery and advancements in nanotechnology. It is designed to complement this year’s Water Convention which showcases practical solutions for today's applications. Apart from technology, the Water Convention also focuses on planning and management of infrastructure, as well as linkages between water and health-related issues to attract a wide audience ranging from operators, managers, regulators, government agencies, technology providers and academics. Business Forums Expanded Two new regions, North America and North Africa, will be added to the business forums. Eminent speakers representing government, trade and research organisations, key technology providers, financial institutions and water authorities will share a myriad of water resources management, development projects and opportunities in nine key water markets at these forums. The eight business forums cover Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan, Middle East and North Africa, North America and Southeast Asia. Mr Khoo added, “The Business Forums last year attracted over 1,000 delegates. This year's Business Forums featuring emerging markets like North America and North Africa will present immense business opportunities for the water industry.” Water Activities for the Public To celebrate the Water Week, a series of water sports competitions and fringe events will be held for the public from 20 to 27 June at Marina and MacRitchie reservoirs, and Singapore River. Registration for the Water Week is now open. The Singapore International Water Week 2009 comprises five flagship programs: Water Leaders Summit Chaired by Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large Prof Tommy Koh, who is also the chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum Governing Council. The Summit will bring together decision-makers in government, utilities providers and water companies from around the world to network and review old assumptions and generate bold ideas. All these will be subsequently documented in the Blue Paper a synthesis of the Summit's outcome. Water Convention This will be held in conjunction with the International Water Associations 6th Leading-Edge Technology (LET) Conference. Delegates will have ample opportunities to exchange valuable knowledge and experiences in the latest water and wastewater technology and infrastructure advances. Focusing on key and emerging issues, Water Convention 2009 will cover four main themes: - Water Technology Solutions for Today's Application - Managing Water Infrastructure - Water and Health - Planning for Sustainable Water Solutions Water Expo A major tradeshow where buyers and sellers of water technologies and solutions congregate. Water Expo 2009 will present exhibitors from China, Germany, Japan and the United States among many others from all over the world. The popular Innovation Corner will offer exhibitors an opportunity to launch new products and technologies for the first time in Asia or the world. One new attraction will be the Buyers' Pavilion - a place where buyers and sellers meet to discuss opportunities and strike partnerships. Business Forums Eight Business Forums will be held during Water Week 2009. The forums will feature eminent speakers with rich and diverse experiences from Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan, Middle East & North Africa, North America and Southeast Asia. Representing government, trade and research organizations, key technology providers, financial institutions and water authorities, these speakers will share a myriad of water resource management, development projects and opportunities in the water world. There will also be exclusive networking sessions. Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize is the highlight of Singapore International Water Week. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions towards solving global water problems by either applying revolutionary technologies or implementing innovative policies and programs benefiting humanity. This award is named after Singapore’s first Prime Minister and present Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who, through his foresight and leadership, has enabled Singapore to attain sustainable water supply. The award ceremony will be held during the Singapore International Water Week and the winner will also deliver the Singapore Water Lecture. Prof Gatze Lettinga, a Dutch environmental engineer, has been awarded Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2009 while the inaugural award went to Dr. Andrew Benedek, a Canadian researcher and successful technopreneur, in 2008. About Singapore International Water Week The Singapore International Water Week is the global platform for water solutions. It will bring policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world. Comprising the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and Business Forums, it culminates in the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, a prestigious international award to recognize outstanding contributions in solving global water issues. The second Singapore International Water Week will be held from June 22 to 26, 2009 at Suntec Singapore. The theme is Sustainable Cities Infrastructure and Technologies for Water. Source: http://www.siww.com.sg/ © Copyright 1998 - 2010 Water and Wastewater.com |
