The second Singapore International Water Week ended on a high note for many local and international water companies who sealed deals totaling S$2.2 billion (roughly $1.5 billion in U.S. dollars), nearly six times the amount achieved last year.
“We are greatly encouraged by the strong response to this year’s Singapore International Water Week,” said Michael Toh, managing director of Singapore International Water Week. “Despite trying economic conditions, the six-fold increase in the value of deals signed during the week shows that the water industry is poised for further growth. Water remains a key area for many governments and industries. They are continuously seeking cost-effective and sustainable solutions to their water problems and have managed to find some of the answers at the Singapore International Water Week. Our show, only in its second year, is proving to be a key draw for water leaders and businesses, not just in this region, but around the world.”
Despite the economic crisis and the impact of Influenza A (H1N1), the Water Week received strong support from the global community, including key international organizations, as well as the government, industry, research and consultancy sectors. More than 10,000 trade attendees comprising delegates, visitors and exhibitors from over 85 countries and regions participated in this year’s Water Week, surpassing last year’s attendance of 8,500. Feedback from the participants on the Water Week and its pillar events such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention and Water Expo has been very positive.
The Water Leaders Summit attracted about 300 high-level delegates from 49 countries including the Crown Prince of Orange, president of Asian Development Bank, vice president of World Bank, the water and environment ministers of Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka and Laos, as well as CEOs of international global water companies and water organizations.
At the Water Convention, more than 800 experts, academics and practitioners from 68 countries came together to discuss the advancements and challenges in water technologies.
The Water Expo, a major water trade show showcasing the latest and widest range of products, services and water technologies, was a sell-out event. The entire 12,000-sq- meter covered exhibition space was completely sold out. The Singapore Pavilion, showcasing Singapore’s water story as well as the capabilities of local industry, expanded five-fold to 1,000 sq meters this year. The Expo featured more than 420 exhibiting companies from some 28 countries and regions.
Nine market-centric business forums covering key water markets such as China, India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia were held with full-house capacity at each session. The new forum on “Financing for Water Infrastructure & Technologies” addressed how the credit crisis has affected the financing of water projects and what business opportunities could emerge from the changing financial landscape.
“We are very pleased with the success of this year’s Water Week, especially so because some of our sponsors, partners and supporting organizations have had a fruitful time. Even as we say goodbye to Water Week 2009, we are already looking forward to 2010 where the focus will be on efficient and cost-effective solutions to provide safe drinking water at an affordable price to the masses amid the global economic downturn. Next year’s show, to be co-located with the World Cities Summit 2010, will be even more exciting!” Toh added.
Many presentations from the event are available for download at the Singapore International Water Week website.
Photo from Singapore International Water Week.
