IFAT Eurasia’s Supporting Programme

This is the overview of the highlights of the supporting programme of Eurasia’s Leading Trade Fair for Environmental Technologies:

Kick-off discussion: Plastic trap Mediterranean Sea

Visitors to IFAT Eurasia 2019 can look forward to controversial discussions held on the very first day of the trade fair. The discussion titled “Last stop open sea? The role of circular economy in the fight against marine littering” will see technology experts, representatives of NGOs as well as of environmental and plastic associations to deal with the issue of a well-functioning waste cycle for Eurasia aiming at the reduction of the “littering“ of rivers and oceans in the region. There is considerable need for action: the Mediterranean Sea, e.g., is considered the world’s sixth-largest deposit of plastic waste in a marine environment. On the podium are representatives of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the Federal Association of the German Disposal, Water and Raw Materials Industry (BDE) and the Association of Plastics Manufacturers (PlasticsEurope). The panel discussion will be hosted by Roland Knitschky of the German Association of Water, Waste Water and Waste Management (DWA) in cooperation with a representative of ISWA.

Premiere: IREMCON Conference held parallel to IFAT Eurasia

Under the banner “Combating Global Climate Change and Strengthening International Cooperation in Waste Management” the International Environmental Conference (IREMCON) will take place in parallel with IFAT Eurasia for the first time. To be more precise: on March 28 and 29 in Hall 10. Over the past five years, IFAT Eurasia and IREMCON have already established a close media partnership, which is now being developed into a co-location. “IREMCON is considered the leading environmental conference in Turkey and the entire Balkan area, making it the ideal partner for the region’s leading environmental technology trade show. Only if we combine knowledge and technology more closely, we can meet today’s major environmental challenges”, says Osman Bayazit Genç, Managing Director of Messe Muenchen Eurasia on the occasion of the partnership.

Promote Young Talents of the Waste and Water Industry

On March 29 and 30, the Trade Fair will direct a special focus on the promotion of young talents. Within the scope of DWA’s University Challenge EURASIA, students from various universities in Turkey and its neighbouring countries will have to solve a defined problem in the field of sustainable water management. The prize for the winners is the incentive: a visit to the world’s largest Trade Fair for Environmental Technologies IFAT, held in Munich in May 2020. Furthermore, ISWA will – for the first time – present its concept for a Young Professionals Group for Turkey. The group aims at networking young talents and young entrepreneurs of the Turkish waste industry, to promote mutual learning and provide tips for career development. Countries such as Brazil, Germany or India already have such regional networks in place. The go-ahead for the Turkish group will be given on the last day of IFAT Eurasia.

Admission to the trade fair and the supporting programme is free. The online pre-registration is already open and allows quick access to the exhibition venue with no waiting time. An overview of the current programme and the list of exhibitors are also available on IFAT Eurasia’s website.