China Expo Sets New Date, Venue
This year’s Water Expo China will now be held at the Beijing Exhibition Center, Beijing, China from Nov. 18 – 20 and is expected to attract a record number of visitors following the success of last year’s show at Beijing’s National Agricultural Exhibition Centre.
Running concurrently with the exhibition will be the 4th Water Summit Conference.
Organized by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) and the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society (CHES), Water Expo China is the only fair sponsored by China’s Ministry of Water Resources and approved by the Ministry of Commerce.
”The direct and powerful support from the Ministry of Water Resources and related government bodies makes Water Expo China an important meeting place for exhibitors and buyers in this fast-growing industry sector,” said Jason Cao, general manager, Messe Frankfurt Shanghai Co Ltd. “Exhibitors and buyers have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with key representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources and local water management authorities who are directly responsible for planning and managing China’s water resources in both urban and rural areas for flood-control, supply, utilization, drainage, wastewater treatment, and protection.”
Last year’s event attracted 200 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions and included a national pavilion from Israel that hosted 12 exhibitors that showcased advanced technologies and experiences related to water resource management, water conservation, irrigation, wastewater treatment, and seawater desalination.
For the 2009 exhibition, Singapore will be joining the lineup of national pavilions, supported by the country’s Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Water Expo China coincides with celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Water Resources. To celebrate a special “Great Achievements” exhibition will showcase Ministry of Water Resources accomplishments made over the past 60 years as well as its latest water projects, products, and technologies.
Under the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006 – 2010), the Chinese central government is giving the country’s water problems top priority in its national infrastructure agenda. This plan includes measures to ensure the transfer of water resources, drinking water safety, flood control, and disaster mitigation as well as soil and water conservation and water ecosystem protection. To fund various projects, the government has been allocating RMB 40 billion each year to the Ministry of Water Resources. An additional RMB 20 billion was allocated last year, prompted by the global financial and economic crises and will be spent as follows:
- RMB 5 billion for rural drinking water safety projects to ensure safe drinking water for over 15 million people
- RMB 3 billion to reinforce 320 large and middle-sized dams
- RMB 3 billion for 208 construction and water-saving reconstruction irrigation projects
- RMB 7 billion for river and lake management
- RMB 2 billion to speed up the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.
As a result of the 11th Five-Year Plan, an increasing number of municipal and provincial governments and middle class populations can afford more expensive water equipment and facilities which, in turn, is creating growth opportunities for high-technology equipment from international suppliers.
For more information, visit www.waterexpochina.com.