Water Expo China + Water Membrane China broke its previous year’s record for exhibitor and visitor attendance when it was held
2 — 4 December 2013 at the China National Convention Center, Beijing, China.
The three-day 22,000 sqm show was organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society and the Membrane Industry Association of China. It is approved by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology, and sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources.
Commenting on the new record, Mr Jason Cao, Senior General Manager for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Co Ltd said: “The show attracted 450 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions, as well as 24,311 visitors from 38 countries and regions. Of these 21,003 were domestic visitors and 3,308 were international visitors. One reason for these record figures is that our comprehensive show is very relevant to the needs of China’s water industry, providing new solutions and technologies from both domestic and international companies. We cover all water segments that require assistance.”
Mr You Jinde, the Membrane Industry Association of China’s Secretary General added: “As a government approved event, the show plays an important role in bringing together exhibitors, visitors and key government decision makers. Many membrane manufacturers have told us about the tremendous value of being able to network with industry peers and meet with potential new agents and distributors.”
Exhibitors report good results and visitors included 50 buyer delegations
Many exhibitors returned to the show as a result of the success they experienced at last year’s show, while many new exhibitors were also successful in their efforts to do business in China’s fast growing water industry. Three returning exhibitors at the German Bavarian Pavilion organised by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology, in cooperation with Bayern International, Bavarian Bureau for International Business Relations were AKW A+V Protec Industry GmbH, Grünbeck Wasseraufbereitung GmbH and sikotec GmbH.
Mr Patrick Bachelart, Head of International Sales for Grünbeck Wasseraufbereitung GmbH said: “We are back because we had a good experience last year as we found a partner. The business has started and we want to intensify our activities here and are looking at the whole market. We are doing many fields with water treatment not only for residential treatment applications.”
Beijing Capital Co Ltd, one of China’s leading industry water industry companies has exhibited at the show since its inception, attracted by the show’s support from the Ministry of Water Resources. Ms Wang Xiaodan from the company’s Strategy and Planning Department, Market Research, added: “We now truly regard this fair as an important and must attend annual event as this is an ideal industry platform where we can showcase our competitiveness and boost our brand recognition.”
Another long term exhibitor is WellinTech Inc, a leading Chinese automation software company focussing on water treatment automation system. “The show is an influential platform where all the big brands are gathered to promote their brand image,” commented Mr Zhang Jinqiang, General Manager of the company’s Municipal Department. “We have met government officials and senior executives from engineering company and contractors and generated leads. By interacting with visitors from different sectors, we know more about their demands. We can then introduce our products and prove our strength with demonstrations.”
Exhibiting for the first time was Sika (China) Ltd. Ms Zoe Li, the company’s Sales Engineer said: “We took advantage of this industry platform branding and new customer development. I’m happy to say that around 50 percent of visitors who came to our stand have an intention of purchasing our products or cooperating with us. We will come to the show next year because we’ve gained a remarkable result.”
As well as the Bavarian Pavilion, this year’s show attracted a record number of pavilions and groups represented by Australia, Japan, Taiwan region and the UK. There was also an international pavilion with five exhibitors from Germany, Korea, Malaysia, the UK and US.
The Australian Pavilion was organised by the Australian Trade Commission (Australian Embassy Commercial Section), the Australian Department of Industry, and the Australian Water Association. Leading the delegation of 12 exhibitors was Mr Bob Herbert, Water Supplier Advocate, from the Australian Government’s, Department of Industry. He commented: “Each of the companies has their own specialisation and expertise and together they make a combined impact on what we can deliver to China’s water industry. Hopefully we can tap into the market and get some partnerships and joint ventures going.”
This year’s show attracted 50 international and domestic buyer delegations. Commenting on the delegations, show organiser Mr Li Zantang, Secretary General of the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society said: “We continue to provide the greatest service we can for a win-win situation for everyone involved in China’s water industry. As part of this commitment and due to our closer cooperation with associations, industry agencies and organisations, institutes and media, we were able to invite more buyer groups than before which covered a large spectrum of China’s water industry.”
The Shanghai Water Reclamation Trade Association delegation consisted of 40 percent government enterprises and administration organisations, and 80 percent were the level of board chairmen and general managers, including two cadres at bureau level. Delegation leader, Mr Fusheng Hu, Vice President and Secretary-General, said: “Participating in this show brings certain benefits to our members which come through market information sharing and increased sourcing efficiency. The most important attraction to our delegation is brand quality of exhibitors.”
The returning Shijiazhuang Environment Science Society delegation attracted government officers, research institute professors and company directors from the pharmacy, chemical engineering, mechanical and disposal industry sectors. Delegation leader Mr Cunyi Yue, Vice Director of the Shijiazhuang Environment Protection Bureau said: “Our delegation members pay a lot attention to technologies, development directions, industry trends, new water pollution control products and technologies which can help with guiding and managing related projects. Compared to other shows, Water Expo China has more new products and technologies and hosts more fringe programmes with rich information which is very enlightening for us.”
Brazilian visitor Mr Luiz Henrique Lamb representing Aqua Via-Brasil, a manufacturer producing chemicals for water and wastewater treatment, was making his first visit to the fair. He commented: “I am impressed as the show is very well organised. Shows like this are important for the industry because we have a lot of contact with customers and suppliers and new technologies and everything that is related to the market.”
Chinese visitor, Mr Li Chun, a Sales Director with Beijing Hawei Engineering Materials Co Ltd was looking for pipes and to meet with his clients who were exhibiters. “It is good to see a lot of people under one roof,” he said. “Through visiting and talking to exhibitors, I know more about the future direction of the industry.” Visiting the show for the first time was Mr Wang Zilei, a Merchandising Technician with the Shandong Water Supplies Group. “I am surprised by the large scale of the fair,” he remarked. “I intended to look for water filtering products but there is a lot more to explore.”
As well as the latest products and technologies, visitors were also able to view a special zone of exhibitors who took part in the show as a result of government agency and association cooperation. In addition, there was a new showcase where project designers/ contractors showed their various Chinese water project achievements and networked with visitors.
Summit and other conference sessions provided important industry information
The theme of this year’s 8th China International Water Business Summit was “Water Crisis: China’s Current Situation and Future Choices” which was covered in four sessions, the China Water Ecology Conference, Comprehensive Control and Ecological Restoration of Middle and Small Watersheds and Urban Rivers, Water Resources Information and Digital Water Conservancy, and Water Price Reformation.
During the summit, the annual Aqua Star Awards were presented to various companies for outstanding contributions to China’s water industry. The award categories were the Flagship Water Enterprise, the Most Growing Water Enterprise, Best Consulting Service Enterprise and the Professional Water Brand Award. Also giving further insight into China’s water industry during the show were these conference sessions:
“¢ 4th International Water Business Match-making Forum
“¢ Australian Water Solutions Seminar
“¢ Automation Technology and Instrument Application in Water Industry Forum
“¢ China’s Drought Relief Drilling Technology and Equipment Development Forum
“¢ China Europe Water Platform Business Matchmaking Forum
“¢ China Irrigation Conference
“¢ Membrane Technology Conference
“¢ The 2nd Water Quality Monitoring Technology and Management Conference
In addition, there was the Sustainable Water and Wastewater Solutions — Exploring United Kingdom-China Collaboration seminar, moderated by Mr Darren Forbes-Batey, Campaign Manager for UK Trade & Investment. The keynote address was given by Mr Mark Lane, Chairman of British Water and Chair of the UKTI Environment and Water Sector Advisory Group. Mr Jing Zhengshu, Executive Chairman of Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society also gave a welcome speech. During the seminar several UK companies gave presentations and three of them signed Memorandum of Understanding contracts with three domestic water companies.
Two sessions of the International Water Business Match-making Forum were held covering industry developments and match-making. One of the forum experts was Mr Yuandong Ma from the Shanghai Water Engineering Association who said the forum was very successful. He remarked: “It brings mutual benefits to the attending experts, enterprises and encourages the development of the water industry. I had dialogue with companies from Germany, Australia and Japan and shared my experience in areas such as pipeline and drainage system management, collection and purification of rain water and wastewater, as well as my China policy knowledge.” One of the match-making companies seeking business opportunities in China was Optimatics from Australia. Ms Elsinore Mann, the company’s Client Support Manager said: “It was a good introduction to a range of government and company representatives from Beijing and elsewhere. A couple of contacts expressed interest in having us present to a wider audience in their organisation. It is an efficient way to meet a number of relevant parties who have expressed interest in learning more about our software and services.”
For more information about Water Expo China + Water Membrane China, please visit www.waterexpochina.com or email Ms Rebecca Zheng at rebecca.zheng@china.
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade show organisers with 543* million euros in sales and 2,026* employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and approx. 50 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2013, Messe Frankfurt organised 114* trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany. Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Center. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent. For more information, please visit our website at:www.messefrankfurt.com
* preliminary numbers (2013)
Background information on the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society
The Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society (CHES), founded in 1931, is an academic organisation of Chinese Hydraulic Engineering professionals, affiliated with the China Association for Science and Technology. A comprehensive organisation, CHES has 100,000 individual members, 41 special commissions, 9 working committees, 60 group members, and 31 local (provincial level) hydraulic engineering societies. It has become a significant force for China’s water resources science and technology development. CHES’s trade promotion arm, Beijing JiangHe BoHua Exhibition Co., has organised Water Expo China successfully every year from 1989 to 2007, and has built up close relationships with many associations, government organisations and manufacturers / companies in the water industry in China.
Background information on the Membrane Industry Association of China
The Membrane Industry Association of China (MIAC) is a state-level industrial society was established in 1995 by the former Ministry of Chemical Industry, the Chinese Academy of Science and the State Oceanic Administration and registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Representing professional and commercial entities in China’s membrane separation field, MIAC is a non-profit non-governmental organisation that operates under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. It is committed to protecting the legitimate interests of its members, the implementation of relevant policies and regulations in China, exchange and collaboration of the membrane industry in China and overseas, strengthening research and development in engineering and technology as well as promoting membrane industry development. MIAC has more than 400 members, most of whom are professional and commercial entities in scientific research, design, production, engineering and trading in the membrane industry. MIAC is also focused on early-stage evaluation of major membrane projects as entrusted by government departments and relevant companies.
