Over 200 Percent Growth in Number of Buyers and Business Meetings Compared to 2015 Edition
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Driving the Middle East and North Africa’s business opportunities in sustainability across energy, water, and waste management, the most expansive and in-depth Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2016 opens tomorrow.
Hosted by Masdar, and running from 16-23 January 2016 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week’s will host the 9th World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2016, the 4th International Water Summit, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, and the 3rd EcoWASTE, held in partnership with Tadweer, the Center of Waste management in Abu Dhabi.
The three co-located events are set to attract more than 33,000 attendees, including over 80 government ministers and visitors from more than 170 countries, and 650 exhibiting companies from over 40 countries, especially from key markets such as the Egypt, India, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.
The Opening Ceremony on Monday, 18 January is set to feature a keynote from President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico, joined by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Additional heads of state are expected to attend from the Cook Islands, Kosovo, Morocco, Nigeria, Palau, Seychelles, and Serbia.
Continuing the momentum from the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21), Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week’s Abu Dhabi Global Action Day will be a high-level meeting that aims to turn global climate change goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into actionable policies.
Conference programs across all there events will address the most pressing challenges and opportunities across the key themes of policy and strategy, finance and funding, project and investment opportunities, and technology and innovation.
Organizers are seeing strong growth in the number and diversity of buyers, exhibitors, and pre-registered visitors, with 217 percent growth in the number of buyers to reach 320 buyers from 15 countries, and 216 percent growth in the number of meetings hosted by Sustainability Business Connect to reach more than 6,000 pre-scheduled meetings. Key product markets include energy efficiency in buildings and solar photovoltaic modules.
Among the leading decision-making buyers are the Enara Energy Investments in Egypt; the National Solar Energy Federation of India; ACWA Power, the Holy Makkah Municipality, and Saudi Aramco in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kharafi National, and Kuwait Oil Company in Kuwait; Oval Engineering and Salalah Sanitary Drainage Services Company in Oman; CH2M Hill, DEWA, Drake & Scull, and Ghantoot Group in the UAE.
“The most expansive edition of the World Future Energy Summit will bring together industry leaders, policy makers, and investors to find long-term solutions to the dramatic challenges facing the region’s energy, water, and waste sectors; support regional sustainability plans; and drive new business for international and regional companies,” said Naji El Haddad, Group Event Director for WFES, IWS, and EcoWaste.
New to Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and WFES this year are the Solar Expo, showcasing the latest in solar technology, the Sustainable Transport on fuel-efficient vehicle technology, the Egypt Energy Forum, showcasing renewable energy opportunities in Egypt, the Future Cities Forum on global best practices urban sustainability, and the Energy Efficiency TechTalk.
The International Water Summit will address the Middle East’s water supply and demand gap, and water sustainability challenges and opportunities. The new Innovate@IWS connects innovators and clean technologists with investors, partners, and end users.
Discussing new ways to sustainably reuse, reduce, and recycle waste, the third EcoWASTE will host the second Municipalities Roundtable on developing cross-border cooperation in the MENA region.
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About Masdar
Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Backed by the Mubadala Development Company PJSC, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy.
For more information about Masdar, please visit: www.masdar.ae
Stay connected: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar
For further media enquiries, please contact press@masdar.ae.
About World Future Energy Summit
The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is the world’s most influential event dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency, and clean technology. Held each year at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, WFES is hosted by Masdar Institute. The WFES 2015 exhibition and conference saw 650 companies from 41 countries, and more than 32,000 attendees from 170 countries participate. For more information, please visit www.worldfutureenergysummit.com.
About International Water Summit
The International Water Summit is a unique global platform for promoting water sustainability in arid regions by bringing together world leaders, field experts, academia luminaries, and business innovators to accelerate the development of new sustainable strategies and technologies. Held annually at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, IWS is hosted by Masdar. For more information, please visit www.iwsabudhabi.com.
About EcoWASTE
EcoWASTE is a leading international platform for advancing sustainable waste management and recycling across MENA and beyond. Seeing waste as a valuable economic resource, EcoWASTE brings together leading local and international experts and providers with key buyers and decision makers. Showcasing the latest innovations and technologies, enabling the exchange of best practice, and opening-up new business opportunities, it plays an important role in helping municipal authorities, industry and large corporations to meet ambitious landfill and recycling targets. Held annually at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, EcoWaste is hosted by Masdar, and held in partnership with Tadweer. For more information on EcoWASTE, please visit www.ecowaste.ae
About Tadweer
Tadweer was established by the government of Abu Dhabi in 2008, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in efforts to become recognized as a global leader in sustainable and integrated solid waste management. The center is the lead agency responsible for controlling and coordinating waste management activities, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, and with two additional branches in Al Ain and the Western region. This includes implementing a comprehensive waste management strategy, and all aspects of service delivery required to establish a fully integrated waste management system in the emirate. The center was rebranded during Q4 of 2013 with the addition of Tadweer to the “Center of Waste Management, Abu Dhabi”. For more information on Tadweer, please visit: www.tadweer.ae
About Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is the ground-breaking global forum that unites thought leaders, policy makers and investors to address the challenges of renewable energy and sustainable development. With the global population set to reach nine billion by 2050, ADSW promotes collaborative thinking and development to accelerate the sustainable solutions needed to support rapid economic and population growth. An Abu Dhabi government initiative, ADSW is the largest gathering on sustainability in the Middle East and a significant forum in stimulating the international dialogue and action. For more information, visit www.abudhabisustainabilityweek.com.