Attendees From 150 Countries To Gather In Abu Dhabi For The Opening Ceremony Of The International Water Summit

The world’s water industry turns its attention to Abu Dhabi with the joint opening today (Tuesday 15th January) of the inaugural International Water Summit (IWS) and sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES), as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

More than 30,000 people from 150 countries including world leaders, government ministers, official delegations C-level business executives, academics, scientists, engineers, developers, global companies and entrepreneurs will converge at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) to discuss, debate and display the latest thinking in sustainable development.
One of the biggest gatherings of its kind, the International Water Summit, hosted by Masdar, is a high-powered platform for government organizations, business leaders, policymakers and scientists to connect with the world’s leading water innovators and entrepreneurs and accelerate the development of sustainable water solutions.

The world’s most influential water experts have arrived in Abu Dhabi for the start of the high-level conference proceedings at the International Water Summit which will address global water issues such as water scarcity in Arab regions, sustainable growth and economic development in arid regions, the future challenges of water availability, and cross boundary collaboration through international water governance. Over 5,000 people are expected to attend the International Water Summit.

The sessions at the International Water Summit tomorrow (Wednesday 16th January) will include a Ministerial Panel, Interview Sessions, Interactive Panel Discussions and Spotlight Interviews with participants including H.E. Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, UAE Minister for Environment and Water; H.E. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General, Gulf Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf; Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jabar, Managing Director and CEO of event host Masdar; H.E. Razan Kahlifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi; Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Electricity & Water Authority; Wim Roels, CEO of principal sponsor Borouge; and Nick Carter, Director General, Regulation and Supervision Bureau Abu Dhabi.
World-leading organizations participating are UN Habitat, the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance (GWOPA), the World Bank, UN Water, the International Desalination Association, UNESCO, the National Food Security Program of Qatar, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Stockholm International Water Institute, the Public Utilities Board Singapore, the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association, the Swiss Water Partnership, the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water, and the Pacific Institute.

Also providing speakers for the International Water Summit are water solution innovators and developers such as Suez Environment, Veolia Water, CH2MHILL, NASA, Befesa Agua, the King Abdulla University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Xylem, Metito, Acciona Agua and Hyflux.

Mr Peter McConnell, IWS Show Director from Reed Exhibitions, event organizer for the International Water Summit, which has Borouge & Borealis as its Principal Sponsor and the Abu Dhabi Electricity & Water Authority as its Strategic Partner, says the event is attracting a great deal of interest from governments, policymakers and exhibitors.

“The conference programme for the International Water Summit starts tomorrow and continues on Thursday, and we have assembled over 100 of the world’s leading water experts to present their ideas and solutions for the most important issues facing the world today, particularly in arid regions, including water governance, water scarcity and water storage.”

“Running alongside the conference programme is a large exhibition area featuring 150 exhibitors from 20 countries who will display their innovations in the water industry, including 35 new product launches that will make significant differences to water accessibility for millions of people around the world.”

Central to the IWS exhibition area is the Sustainable Solutions Village, presented by Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. Styled like a Bedouin village, the IWS Sustainable Solutions Village is an exhibition of ideas that have been successfully implemented in water scarce communities across the world to help local populations live a safe and water sustainable life.

IWS Project Stream, run in association with Global Water Intelligence, is an exciting business marketplace that will run parallel with the main water exhibition. It will bring together buyers and sellers from the international water community to explore beneficial synergies, establish partnerships and take advantage of the dedicated networking facility.

Also in the IWS exhibition area is the Green Ideas Fair, run in conjunction with the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), which encourages students to submit and showcase their environmental sustainability solutions. Endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), the fair is designed to stimulate the invention of working solutions to the issues of water scarcity, particularly in arid regions and increasing energy demand through renewable sources. Up to 20 ideas will be shortlisted and displayed. Visitors and delegates will choose the winner through an on-site voting system, and IWS and WFES will award cash prizes to the top three candidates.
 

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Jan 14, 2013

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