Business & Money | Tuesday 7 April, 2015 12:01 am |

From 4 exhibitors in 1999 to over 1,500 exhibitors in 2014


There is a growing global interest in green solutions and technologies, the transformation towards green economy, and limiting the negative impact of dangerous emissions on health, the environment, and development. This underlines the need for communication platforms that showcase green solutions. These platforms bring together experts, professionals, and governments to discuss new developments and share best practice.

Over the past 17 years, the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance of the UAE and President of DEWA, has been playing an important role in this field.

The 17th WETEX, to be held from 21-23 April, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is a leading global platform for green solutions. Growing in stature year after year, the exhibition attracts specialists, exhibitors, participants, governments, and experts. It addresses different challenges facing the industry including renewable energy technologies, environmentally-friendly home appliances, and water and environmental sustainability solutions.

WETEX started with only 4 exhibitors in 1999. The number was over 1,500 in 2014, and while 357 trade visitors visited the first WETEX, over 23,000 visited it last year. The phenomenal growth of WETEX over 16 years reflects its growing importance, and its ability to bring together concerned parties from around the world, turning it into an international forum for highlighting effective solutions. It is an international forum for experts to develop solutions that address the needs of the region and the world.

"At DEWA, we support the UAE Vision 2021 to achieve a sustainable environment, improve the quality of life, save natural resources, increase dependence on clean energy, and implement green growth plans. We also support the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to make the UAE a world leader in this area and a centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies. We support the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a city that uses its resources sustainably and whose environmental elements are clean, healthy, and sustainable. DEWA has been working hard to position WETEX as an important global platform. Over 16 years, the exhibition has made huge strides in focusing on solutions for water and environment, oil and gas, and conventional and renewable energy. It has triggered agreements and deals that directly support the economic, socio-economic and environmental development not only of Dubai and the UAE, but for the entire region," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO, DEWA, President and Founder of WETEX.

“WETEX provides an ideal platform for exhibitors and participants. We have increased the exhibition area significantly and added innovative services for exhibitors and visitors, as we pursue our goal of global leadership as one of the leading specialised exhibitions of its kind in the world," noted Al Tayer.

WETEX 2015 highlights investment potential in water, energy, and environment. It focuses on promoting innovative solutions and technologies in water, energy, environments, oil, gas and environmental sustainability. Exhibitors provide innovative solutions in these areas.

Environmental and sustainability issues top the list of priorities of various countries in the world at a time reducing pollution worldwide requires collaborative efforts. Countries’ contributions in this aspect pay off to the entire globe. WETEX 2015 promotes environmental sustainability and supports the green economy globally. It has attracted leading experts, exhibitors, and specialised institutions from around the globe.

WETEX and World Green Economy Summit will be organised under the umbrella of the 2nd Green Week. Green Week aims to spread a culture of green initiatives and draw attention of the UAE society and the world to the importance of committing to it and spreading it.

The exhibition focuses on a variety of topics and activities related to water and energy use, environmental protection, waste management, green buildings, and the latest cutting-edge solutions that contribute to reducing gas emissions to support cleaner and healthier environment.