Press Releases

Contact:  Serean Thomson
Email: marketing@exhibitionsafrica.com
Tel: +27 (0) 11-783-7250

WaterTec Africa 2009 and Singapore
International Water Week Focus on Sustainability

The theme for the upcoming Singapore International Water Week (22 to 26 June 2009) – “Sustainable Cities – Infrastructure and Technologies for Water” - is closely aligned to the objectives of WaterTec Africa 2009. New on the industry event calendar, WaterTec Africa 2009 takes place from 9 to 11 June 2009 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, South Africa.

Globally, more than 1.1 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.6 billion lack access to basic sanitation. In Africa, 14 countries are already experiencing “water stress”. Africa is the second driest continent in the world, after Australia, and millions of Africans continue to suffer due to water shortages and disease.

A child dies of a water-related disease every 15 seconds in Africa, diarrhoea being the biggest killer of children.  According to UNICEF; “Diarrhoea, which is spread easily in an environment of poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation, kills about 2.2 million people each year, most of them children under five". The fourth Millennium Development Goal is to reduce the mortality rate amongst children under five by two thirds by 2015.

According to John Thomson of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of WaterTec Africa, water issues have been receiving significant attention in the media over recent months. With headlines like “Cholera a concern – but ‘no crisis’, “Provinces confirm 32 dead and 3000 infected” (The Times, 21 January)” and “Nigeria: cholera kills 27 in Ebonyi’,” (Bizcommunity) sustainable water solutions are at the forefront of the water industry’s agenda.

“Whether we are looking at water services, water resource management, water quality management, water conservation or water demand management – it’s all about sustainability”, says Thomson. With the African Water Association (AfWA) endorsing WaterTech, these issues will be addressed at an African level – not just a country level.

AfWA is one of two organisations that are responsible for the Water Operators Partnership Africa (WOP). WOP is a project of the United Nations (UN-HABITAT) and the World Bank. This programme focuses on the sharing of experience and capacity building among the water and sanitation sector operators. It is supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other financial institutions. 

Supporting Associations
WaterTec Africa 2009 is endorsed by the African Water Association (AfWA), the Chemical and Allied Industries Association (CAIA), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), the South African Irrigation Institute (SABI) and the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA).

Business Matchmaking Programme
Sponsored by Siemens, the Business Matchmaking Programme will provide confirmed participants with a pre-matched report, specific to their industry and target markets. Participants can select who they would like to meet and the expert WaterTec Business Matchmaking team will schedule and confirm meetings, making this a powerful networking platform.

The Conference
With the theme “Trends and Challenges”, the conference will highlight water and wastewater opportunities and challenges beyond 2010.

Participating Media Partners
Confirmed media partners are: African Mining; Civil Engineering Contractor; Engineering News; IMIESA; International Water & Irrigation; Mining Mirror; Water & Sanitation Africa; and Water Sewerage & Effluent.

WaterTec Africa 2009 will be co-located with the 6th Edition of the Biannual “Pumps, Valves & Pipes Expo”, (PVP), as well as Petro.t.ex Africa 2009. PVPA 2009 is the sixth international trade fair for suppliers to the following industries: agriculture and horticulture, beverage, brewing, dairy, food, mining, industrial and civil engineering, manufacturing, national and local government, petrochemicals, pulp and paper and water utilities. Petro.t.ex Africa 2009 is an exhibition for suppliers to oil refineries, petrochemical plants, oil and gas installations and pipelines.

For More Information
For more information on the WaterTec Africa 2009 exhibition,
contact Serean Thomson of Exhibition Management Services.
Tel: +27 (0)11 783 7250
Fax: +27 (0)11 783 7269
marketing@exhibitionsafrica.com