(Communicated by the the MFA Spokesman’s Bureau)
Twenty-five ministerial delegations and 150 company directors and business people from five continents are expected to visit the 5th International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition - WATEC Israel 2009 - on November 17-19 at the Trade Fairs and Conventions Center in Tel Aviv.
Simultaneously, an international conference will examine the need for a sustainable economy to reduce environmental damage, for the benefit of future generations. The conference will address the problems and challenges facing different countries - more efficient water consumption, limiting environmental pollution and the increasing use of alternative energy sources globally.
Some of the conference sessions will be run using a unique model focusing on continents. Guests from the particular countries will present their challenges, and commercial and research institute representatives will offer possible technological solutions to these problems.
All the sessions - moderated by commercial attachés from the Israeli Ministry of Trade and Industry - will focus on innovative developments over the last two years. One example is the Israeli-Jordanian Project for Production of Bio-Diesel from Agricultural Waste. The Project, which enables production of alternative energy without harming the production of food, is initiated by Israeli and Jordanian companies and will be presented for the first time at the conference.
WATEC 2009 is being organized by the Israel Trade Fairs and Conventions Center and Kenness Exhibitions. The Exhibition is being held under the auspices of the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Environmental Protection, Foreign Affairs and National Infrastructures; the Government Water Program - Israel NewTech, headed by Oded Distel; the Export Institute; and the Industrial Research and Development Center.
Israel was recently named "the Silicon Valley of water technology" and "cleantech incubator to the world" (see: The Top Ten Cleantech Countries of 2009.
It also ranks 4th on the Global Cleantech 100 List.
Within the framework of the WATEC 2009 exhibition, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is organizing a number of conferences and events, including:
- Meeting of Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan with mayors on separation of waste at source
- Professional conference on separation of waste at source and reduction of greenhouse gases: November 18, 2009, 13:30 - 18:00, Pavilion 10, Hall 1.
- Professional conference on opening a window to renewable energies, in cooperation with Environment 2020: November 17, 2009, Pavilion 10, Hall 1, 14:00 - 18:00
- Accreditation ceremonies for green kindergartens and green schools, with the participation of the Ministers of Environmental Protection and Education.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection invites all participants to its model green house to experience, first hand, the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable building.