IFAT India 2015 Promotes India’s Environmental Upswing

The agreements on environmental protection, signed by the German Chancellor and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on her recent visit to the country in October, also had a positive effect on the mood at IFAT India. “This year´s IFAT India has maintained its position in a challenging market environment. Exhibitors and visitors alike were encouraged by the confidence of our Chancellor in the Indian market,” commented Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München. Germany and India will in future be working more closely together on environmental protection and in particular intensifying their cooperation in waste and water management.

Between October 13 and 15, 2015 the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai was for the third time transformed into a showcase for the latest environmental technology and solutions. 136 exhibitors took part in IFAT India 2015. Again a very high percentage of them—56 percent—were from outside India. Country pavilions from Austria, China, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland featured at the show.

“IFAT India is like a missing link between the Indian government and the private sector, uniting them to promote a clean India and a green future. We look forward to participating in the next edition,” said Rutger De Bruijn, organizer of the Netherlands Pavilion. The figures for attendance confirm the attractiveness of IFAT India 2015. More than 4,300 quality visitors came to the Bombay Exhibition Centre on the three days of the show. Igor Palka, COO of MMI India, is also proud of this event: “As a spin-off from the leading international trade fair IFAT in Munich, IFAT India is synonymous with professionalism and quality. Our exhibitors this year confirmed precisely that; they were very pleased with the high quality of the visitors and the keen interest shown in the products and solutions at the fair.”

“There have been positive changes in the environment industry. We are happy to be associated with IFAT India and with the response we have achieved. The business opportunities that we received at the trade fair were remarkable. We will definitely participate in the next edition,” said Mr. Nishant Thakre, CMG Head, ION Exchange India Ltd.

Also attracting great interest, as well as the exhibits at the trade fair, was the scientific and technical conference program. In 20 conferences and panel discussion speakers from all over the world gave the trade audience the benefit of their expertise on topical subjects in the environmental sector. This year one of the main issues was the current shortage of skilled workers in the Indian environmental sector. On the “Capacity Development Day”, on October 15, the possible solutions were discussed and options set out for corresponding training and qualification. Special awards for young people and skills development sessions rounded off the educational offering in the accompanying program to IFAT India.

Another highlight was the “All India Environmental Journalism Competition”. Each year awards are presented on the first day of IFAT India for outstanding journalism dealing with environmental themes on the Indian subcontinent.

The next IFAT India takes place from September 28 to 30, 2016 in Mumbai.