ACWUA – Arab Countries Water Utilities Association Is Official Partner of Wasser Berlin International

By securing the partnership of ACWUA (the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association) Wasser Berlin International 2013 has ensured the participation of a strong region. Set up in 2006 and based in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the association numbers around 100 members. It represents 17 Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Due to its climate and geography the Middle East is a region where innovative water supply and wastewater disposal technology has good prospects for future use.

“With ACWUA we are delighted to have secured the involvement of an international partner capable of offering a great deal to service providers and systems and component manufacturers“, says Cornelia Wolff von der Sahl, the Messe Berlin project manager of this event. “Our collaboration to date has shown that the Middle East is keen to continue expanding its supply infrastructure. Against this backdrop Wasser Berlin International provides an outstanding platform for coordinating supply and demand. “

On 23 April, Egypt’s Minister of Water and Sanitation H.E. Dr Abdel Kawi Khalifa is due to open Wasser Berlin International. Representing Germany, Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel has also agreed to attend.

The stand of ACWUA in Hall 3.2 will be the meeting place for official delegations from the Arab world and companies keen to work with the water industry in this region. A delegation from Qatar is among those who have already announced their attendance at the fair. At the same time, numerous exhibitors from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates who are not members of ACWUA will also be presenting their products and services in Hall 3.2, including the organisers of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW). This prize is awarded in five categories and worth a total of 798,000 dollars. It honours outstanding scientific research and technological innovation in the water industry. By participating in Wasser Berlin International PSIPW aims to attract prospective contestants for its sixth awards in 2014.

On 24 April, at the 8th International Symposium on Pipeline Construction, Egyptian water industry experts will be speaking about ”Collecting information on and documenting the Cairo water supply system“ and the ”Alexandria water supply system.“

The focus at the congress will also be on the countries of the Arab world. On 25 April 2013, from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. in New York Room 2 in Hall 7.1, the Arab Forum will be taking a close look at the region’s water industry and hosting a discussion on the latest related topics. Organised by the German Water Partnership (GWP), the forum will in particular discuss German-Arab joint ventures and the opportunities for investing in the local water industry. The International Forum in Hall 3.2 will host the following events devoted to topics concerning Arab countries:

• “Key water industry market in the Arab world – Morocco“ (23 April 2013, 1 to 3 p.m.)
• “Learning from the past - the Levant and Middle East & North Africa“ (23 April 2013, 3.30 to 5.30 p.m.)
• “Water industry in Egypt – ways to approach the market“ (24 April 2013, 1 to 3 p.m.)
• “Key water industry market in the the Arab world – Saudi Arabia“ (24 April 2013, 3.30 to 5.30 p.m.)

Only holders of a congress ticket may attend the Arab Forum in Hall 7.1. Holders of a trade fair ticket may attend the events at the International Forum in Hall 3.2.

The partnership with ACWUA is only one aspect reflecting the international dimension of Wasser Berlin International. From 23 to 26 April a total of around 30,000 visitors are expected to come to Berlin to find out about the latest water industry trends and developments from the 600 exhibitors at the fair. Approximately one third of the exhibitors will be from abroad.