ENVIRONMENT 2007 – The 4th Environment looks set for success

Building on its success in 2005, when the show attracted 338 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors, this year it expects to host over 320 exhibitors from thirty countries, occupying 20% more exhibition space, so confirming its position as the leading show in the Persian Gulf region.

Organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and EAD

Reed Exhibitions, which has signed a long term co-operation agreement with ADNEC - Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, is the owner of several shows in Abu Dhabi, including Environment 2007, which is organized in partnership with EAD, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi. Other sectors are currently being studied with a view to launching new shows.

Patronage and official support at the highest level

Environment 2007 benefits from the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

The show’s main partners are ADNOC - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and its subsidiaries, ADWEA - Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, the ADCB – Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Total, Shell, Aldar Properties and the NBAD. It also has the support of the General Secretariat of United Arab Emirate Municipalities.

Rapidly expanding markets

According to a World Bank estimate, the United Arab Emirates will devote the sum of US$ 46 billion to environment projects over the next eight years.

Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority will invest between US$ 50 and 120 billion for the production of water and energy over the next ten years and the Gulf nations will devote between US$ 4.5 and 6 billion per annum to drinking water projects up until 2015.

In the field of waste water, the ADSSC, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, issued two major invitations to tender in June 2006 in the United Arab Emirates.

15,000 m² of innovative solutions tailored to the needs of the region

The range of exhibits spread over 15,000 m² of exhibition space covers technologies and equipment for water, waste and air. On the renewables and energy efficiency front, the Masdar initiative, which is designed to attract the most innovative technologies and know how in this field to Abu Dhabi, will have a stand at the show and a presentation in the conference programme. The initiative, which works with European and American universities and which was launched by the government of Abu Dhabi in April 2006, shows the importance that the authorities attach to innovation and sustainable development.

International know how also has a major presence at the show, with several countries having large national stands: the German one occupies 700m², Austria is taking part for the first time officially, Canada is present throughout their Embassy, France has fifteen companies and institutions on its stand, the UK, India, Japan, which, through the support of JETRO has the largest national stand at the show with 40 exhibitors, as well as the Netherlands and Switzerland.

5 days of scientific and technical exchanges

In order to satisfy the information and training needs of the visitors, the show is also hosting a major international conference organized by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi on the subject of renewables in arid regions. It will include papers on solar, wind, marine and geothermal energy, as well as desalination technologies and energy efficiency.

It will be followed on 1st February by the special “Arab Regional Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development: Strategies, Policies, Plans” conference organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), in co-operation with the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE Secretariat), UNEP/ROWA and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.