Israeli water technology to sparkle at two-day expo

The WATEC Israel 2007 exhibition will host conferences and exhibits on environmental issues.

By MARISSA LEVY
picnic table water 88 (photo credit: )
picnic table water 88
(photo credit: )
The fourth annual International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition (WATEC) begins Tuesday in Tel Aviv, and will spotlight cutting-edge technologies aimed at managing the world's water resources, reducing global pollution and promoting the use of alternative energy. The WATEC Israel 2007 exhibition, which runs from October 30 to November 1 at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center, will host 250 exhibitions and five conferences on pressing environmental issues such as water reuse, renewable and clean energy sources and the international standardization of water technologies. The exhibition, whose site spans 20,000 meters, is considered to be one of the leading water and environmental technology conventions in the world. NIS 20 million was invested in the three-day event. The forum will highlight Israeli developments in the field, and emphasize the country's leading international role in water resource management. The exhibition is aimed at strengthening Israel's reputation as the "Silicon Valley" of the global water and environmental technologies market. CEOs from Veolia Water, Siemens and General Electric, three of the largest water technology companies in the world, will be speaking at this week's symposium. More than 2000 visitors and 100 delegations from 80 countries worldwide enrolled to survey the latest developments in water and environmental technologies on display at WATEC. The convention will feature three conferences running Tuesday-Wednesday, including the WATEC conference, the 9th annual national desalination conference and the Ernst and Young-sponsored CleanTech seminar on investment strategies in the renewable energy industry. The two-day WATEC forum will focus on the Israeli experience with water management, Australian water resources and the environmental challenges mounting in the world's developing regions, such as Asia, Africa and South America. Shimon Peres will be on hand to deliver closing session remarks on the Red Sea-Dead Sea canal. The international law firm Greenburg Traurig will host a one-day global resources conference Wednesday on the role of water and environmental technologies in the global marketplace. Thursday, WATEC will host a closed-door workshop on to promote water security in the face of terrorism. The exhibition opens daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost $150 or NIS 630 for a one-day pass, and $280 or NIS 1160 for full participation.