IFAT India 2016 Expands its Supporting Program

Participants include industry leaders such as Aquanomics, BASF, Bilfinger, Endress+Hauser, Excel Industries, Godrej, Ion Exchange, Kirloskar Brothers, Netzsch, Putzmeister, Siemens, Tata Projects, Wilo and Xylem. And the trade fair is not alone on its growth course - the supporting program is now more extensive than ever. New offerings this year include the Active Learning Center from the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) and the Sino-Indian Environmental Technology and Industry Dialogue, organized by the Chinese Foreign Economic Cooperation Office.

Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München, explains: "There are a number of challenges in the environmental sector in India that need to be solved. This is why we have expanded the supporting program for our event. It allows us to provide more room for discussions, knowledge transfer and professional training."

Learning by doing

At all IFAT trade fairs, also in India the topic of "training skilled workers" is right at the top of the agenda. The Active Learning Center will provide a separate area in the exhibition hall for the first time offering practical training, live demonstrations and professional competitions for young talents and skilled workers. The individual tasks are tailored specifically to the current needs and requirements of the Indian environmental sector. In one of the exercises, for example, participants have to design a smart city with intelligent resource management or complete exercises on occupational safety, maintenance and process control.

Also new this year is the Sino-Indian Environmental Technology and Industry Dialogue, which will focus on environmental policy topics concerning China and India. "Both countries share a common goal to create more sustainable and more environmentally-friendly economic growth," explains Fang Li, Deputy Director General, Foreign Economic Cooperation Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection of China. "Environmental technologies are the key to this plan. IFAT India is the ideal platform for us to promote this bilateral dialog." High-ranking experts and political representatives from India and China are expected as speakers.

From biogas utilization to zero liquid discharge

The agenda for the Innovation Exchange Forum includes numerous events addressing water, waste, recycling and resource management in India. Whether it is the thermal utilization of waste, treatment of industrial wastewater (zero liquid discharge) or best practices in the automation field, the individual sessions are specifically tailored to the needs of the Indian market. For the first time, biogas utilization in India is a key topic on the agenda. Gaurav Kedia, Chairman of the Indian Biogas Association (IBA), for example, introduces the new cooperation project with the German Biogas Association. In addition, training and development of skilled workers in the water and waste sector also play a role here.

The Innovation Exchange Forum is being organized jointly by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA), German Water Partnership (GWP), Indus Media and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).

Visitor registration online

Visitors can register now for IFAT India 2016. Special counters offer visitors free and fast entry on all fair days with online registration. The complete supporting program with detailed information on the individual topics and speakers is also available on the website.