Singapore International Water Week
Encyclopedia
Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) is the global platform for water solutions. It brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
Event’s success sees significant growth in size and increase in international participation since inception, cementing status as leading global platform for water solutions.
Singapore, 12 July 2011: Singapore International Water Week 2011, held from 4 – 8 July and themed “Sustainable Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment” notched new highs, with a bigger slate of exhibiting companies and an encouraging growth in participant numbers.
This global platform for water solutions attracted a record of some 13,500 participants from 99 countries/regions. This marks a growth in attendance figures of almost 60% since the inaugural event in 2008. The Water Expo saw close to 70% growth in exhibition space and a 70% increase in the number of exhibiting companies over the inaugural year of 2008. Over 600 companies took part in this year’s Water Expo, which attracted six new international pavilions from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Milwaukee Water Council (USA), the Water Environment Federation (USA), and the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership (USA); taking the total number of pavilions to 15. The total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments and R&D MOUs reached S$2.9 billion.
Mr Michael Toh, Managing Director of the Singapore International Water Week, said “We are extremely pleased with the strong industry support for the Singapore International Water Week. Water management remains a vital focus area for governments and industries in today’s challenging global landscape, which is marked by growing population and rapid urbanisation. The Water Week’s ability in bringing together global water leaders from the public sector, the private sector and academia, augurs well for the growing global water industry in ensuring a continual dialogue and identifying governance, business and technological solutions to address this common challenge.”
The first ever UK Pavilion was supported by the UK Trade and Investment department, responsible for promoting export and import, and hosted by British Water, the trade association for the UK water and wastewater industry. Bridget Orr, British Water Marketing Executive said, “We have been very impressed by the calibre of the other exhibitors and the professionalism of the exhibition organisation. Our companies have made excellent contacts with key utilities and companies across the region. We look forward to developing the relationships we have made at Singapore International Water Week, and to continue to showcase and share UK expertise and experience in innovation, technology, high quality manufacturing and asset management.”
Similar success was experienced at the Milwaukee Water Council Pavilion. Dean Amhaus, Executive Director, Milwaukee Water Council said, “Our decision to create a larger pavilion with higher visibility clearly helped our old friends find us and our new friends to discover us during the week. Most importantly, we believe that we were able to make some connections with businesses and organisations that will develop into important partnerships in the near future. Certainly Singapore International Water Week will be at the top of our list for participation in 2012.”
Said Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Experia Events, the event organiser of Singapore International Water Week, “The continuing sell-out success at this year’s Water Expo is testimony to the fact that policymakers and industry players are looking at this showcase as a must-attend event with its rich offering of business and networking opportunities. This year, many exhibitors displayed their latest range of innovative products and services, in addition to taking up more exhibition space. We are already receiving bookings from both returning exhibitors and new reservations for next year’s Water Expo.”
The focus on new technology and innovation was a particular highlight for this year’s event, in line with Singapore’s position as a key driver in the research and development of new water solutions. The inaugural Water Innovations@SIWW showcased five new technologies spawned in Singapore, while TechXchange, provided a platform connecting potential inventors with the researchers behind these technologies.
Said Dr Chen Zhong, Associate Professor and Assistant Chair (Undergraduates) at the School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, “The TechXchange workshop provided an excellent opportunity to bring our R&D technologies to the market. The interaction also enables researchers to stay more focused on critical issues facing the industry in their future research.”
Investors attending the workshop echoed this endorsement. Dr Helge Daebel, Senior Specialist, Emerald Ventures said, “The workshop offered good insights into very interesting technical developments from the research organisations in Singapore. What needs to happen next is to match them with a strong entrepreneurial mind-set. During the panel discussion, industry thought leaders shared stimulating comments in that direction.”
In addition, more than 30 new products and technologies made their regional and international debut at the Water Expo’s Launch@SIWW innovation showcase, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for companies looking to promote their new products to key markets in the world.
The fifth Singapore International Water Week will be held from 1 to 5 July 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands. The theme will be “Water Solutions for Liveable and Sustainable Cities.
Total value of announcements exceeded S$2.8 billion and overall increase in participation at the leading global platform for water solutions.
The recently concluded Singapore International Water Week 2010 (28 June to 2 July 2010) ended on a high note for many local and international water companies, where the total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments into Singapore and R&D MOUs exceeded S$2.8 billion, up by 27% from last year’s S$2.2 billion. The event, which was held together with the World Cities Summit this year, also saw a record increase in the number of trade attendees to over 14,000 from 85 countries/regions.
“We are extremely pleased with the positive outcome at the 2010 Singapore International Water Week which continues to grow into its third year. The continued strong support from participating countries and regions is an affirmation of our vision to be the global platform for water solutions. Despite the uncertain global economic recovery, water remains a key focus area for governments and industries as cities around the world continue to grow at an unprecedented rate with rapid urbanisation. Many countries continue to seek clean and affordable solutions to meet their respective needs and use the Water Week as a platform for learning, exchange and networking. We are delighted with the significant increase in the total value of announcements during the week. It augurs well for the growing water sector across the globe and in ensuring delivery of water services where needed,” said Michael Toh, Managing Director of Singapore International Water Week.
'Key announcements'
Some of the more significant deals closed at last week’s Water Week included the combined S$69 million contract clinched by home-grown water company, Moya Dayen Limited, from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority in Cambodia for Phase 1 of the Niroth Water Production Facilities Project. Awarded in two contracts, Moya Dayen will undertake the supply, delivery, and construction of a 25 metres high intake tower located in the Mekong River, a raw water pumping station and a raw water transmission main as well as other ancillary works.
Under the second contract, Moya Dayen will construct a water treatment plant which includes treated water tanks, a treated water transmission main and other ancillary buildings. When completed, the Niroth Water Production Facilities – Phase I will be one of the largest water treatment facilities, producing 130,000m3/day of potable water, to serve the greater Phnom Penh population.
During the week, another Singapore home-grown energy, water and marine group, Sembcorp, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), worth S$280 million to expand seawater desalination capacity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the local front, the company announced that it will develop a new integrated wastewater treatment facility in Jurong Island’s Tembusu District.
A local subsidiary of Boustead, a global infrastructure engineering company, was awarded a S$21 million contract for the first new water recycling plant in UAE.
Several collaborative agreements were also signed during the week including the joint development of Optiqua’s real time sensor technology by Optiqua Technologies, a subsidiary of Dutch optical sensor company Optisense and national water agency PUB, as well as a joint research and technology testing program to further develop energy-efficient water and wastewater treatment solutions by ITT Corporation and PUB.
Global Water Intelligence, the leading information service for the international water industry also announced its plans to set up its Asia office in PUB’s WaterHub, a centre for technology, learning and networking and home to many renowned water-related organisations such as the Singapore Water Association, International Water Association, Netherlands Water House, Singapore Society for Trenchless Technology, and R&D institutes of leading water players like Siemens, Nitto Denko and Optiqua Technologies.
'Encouraging statistics'
Demonstrating the event’s growing global appeal and significance, this year’s Water Week received strong support from the global community, including key international organisations, as well as the government, industry, research and consultancy sectors from 85 countries. Feedback from the participants on the Water Week and its pillar events such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, Business Forums and the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize has been very positive all-round.
The number of high-level delegates at the Water Leaders Summit jumped 22% to 379, including participation by board members of UN Secretary-General Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, Crown Prince of Orange, President of the Republic of Maldives, Vice President of World Bank, the Water and Environment Ministers of Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates as well as CEOs of leading international global water companies and water organisations.
At the Water Convention, over 1,000 experts, academics and practitioners came together to discuss the advancements and challenges in water technologies. In particular, the enhanced networking and business opportunities, such as the Industry-to-Industry networking sessions to enable cross industry interaction at the Water Week were well received as testified by the robust attendance at every session. The number of participants in 2010 represented an increase of almost 20% over the preceding year.
The Water Expo, a major water trade show showcasing the latest and widest range of products, services and water technologies, saw a record turnout with a total of eight country pavilions, boosted by the debut of two new country pavilions from Canada and Korea. The Water Expo was completely sold out in the month leading to the start of the event. Following their success in previous editions of the Water Week, Japanese companies turned up in full force and showcased their latest water solutions in an expanded Japan Pavilion, which was double the space compared to last year. The Expo also featured more than 500 participating companies from nearly 40 countries/regions.
Said Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Singapore Airshow & Events Pte Ltd (SAe), co-event organisers of Singapore International Water Week, “The sell out success at this year’s Water Expo is proof that water companies are looking at the Water Expo as a platform of choice and a must-attend event with a proven ROI. At this year’s event, exhibitors are showcasing a wider and even more comprehensive range of products and services, in addition to taking up bigger exhibition space and spending more on their booths. The Water Expo at Water Week 2010 has seen a better integration of co-located events and we have received very positive feedback from our exhibitors who have lauded the quality of trade visitors and the myriad offer of rich networking opportunities. We have already received bookings from both returning exhibitors and also new reservations for next year’s Water Expo.”
In all, 26 new products and technologies made their regional and international debut at the Water Expo’s Innovation Corner, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for such global and regional launches.
As one of the pillar events of the Singapore International Water Week, the eight Business Forums provided excellent premiere networking and deal-making opportunities for leading water markets in Americas, China, Europe, Australia, India, Japan, Middle East and North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Over 80 eminent speakers and distinguished industry experts from both the public and private sectors graced each of the eight business forums.
Apart from these, the number of co-located events increased by nearly 60% to 120 events, including the inaugural Asia-Pacific Water Ministers’ Forum, the 14th Meeting of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, and the first- ever River Basin & Delta Management Workshop.
“We have already begun working on the 2011 event and will continue to work on the many ideas and solutions developed and discussed at the Water Week 2010. Water Week 2011 will focus on efficient and cost-effective solutions for a changing urban environment,” added Mr Toh.
More than 10,000 attendees from over 85 countries/regions visited the week long event which drew to a close last Friday
The second Singapore International Water Week ended on a high note for many local and international water companies who sealed deals totalling S$2.2 billion, nearly six times the amount achieved last year.
Said Mr Michael Toh, Managing Director of Singapore International Water Week, “We are greatly encouraged by the strong response to this year’s Singapore International Water Week. Despite trying economic conditions, the six-fold increase in the value of deals signed during the week shows that the water industry is poised for further growth. Water remains a key area for many governments and industries. They are continuously seeking cost-effective and sustainable solutions to their water problems and have managed to find some of the answers at the Singapore International Water Week. Our show, only in its second year, is proving to be a key draw for water leaders and businesses, not just in this region, but around the world.”
'Key deals concluded'
Hyflux signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ABB for Hyflux’s Algeria Magtaa Project worth S$28 million. Another MOU was signed with Dutch Technology Foundation STW, for a partnership research programme on advanced membrane separation technologies. The programme is expected to have a value of some S$6 million.
Hyflux also signed a joint venture with the Libyan state-owned General Desalination Company for a venture to build two seawater desalination plants in Tripoli and Benghazi with a combined capacity of more than 900,000 cu m / day.
The fruit of GE and National University of Singapore (NUS) partnership is the S$150 million research and development centre that was opened during the Water Week. The NUS-GE Singapore Water Technology Centre - within the school of engineering at the National University of Singapore - aims to develop safe drinking water systems across Asia and will develop new solutions for low-energy seawater desalination, water reclamation and more efficient water reuse.
Toray Industries, Inc. announced the establishment of a S$10 million Toray Water Technology Laboratory. The water laboratory will conduct research and development of water treatment technologies focusing on membrane-based water technologies and innovative water treatment technologies in the area of membrane fouling mechanism.
Local water player Dayen Environment signed a MOU, totalling S$10 million, with two European partners, ConSideR Group and Colsen International to provide sustainable water solutions to Asia and the Middle East region.
'Encouraging statistics'
Despite the economic crisis and the impact of Influenza A (H1N1), the Water Week received strong support from the global community, including key international organisations, as well as the government, industry, research and consultancy sectors. More than 10,000 trade attendees comprising delegates, visitors and exhibitors from over 85 countries/regions participated in this year’s Water Week, surpassing the attendance of 8,500 last year. Feedback from the participants on the Water Week and its pillar events such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention and Water Expo, has been very positive all-round.
The Water Leaders Summit attracted about 300 high-level delegates from 49 countries including the Crown Prince of Orange, President of Asian Development Bank, Vice President of World Bank, the Water and Environment Ministers of Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka and Laos as well as CEOs of international global water companies and water organisations.
Over at the Water Convention, more than 800 experts, academics and practitioners from 68 countries came together to discuss the advancements and challenges in water technologies.
In particular, the enhanced networking and business opportunities, like the Industry-to-Industry networking sessions to enable cross industry interaction at the Water Week were well received as testified by the robust attendance at every session.
The Water Expo, a major water trade show showcasing the latest and widest range of products, services and water technologies, was a sell-out event. The entire 12,000 sq m of covered exhibition space was completely sold out. The Singapore Pavilion, showcasing Singapore’s water story as well as the capabilities of local industry, expanded five-fold to 1,000 sq m this year. The Expo featured more than 420 exhibiting companies from some 28 countries/regions.
Said Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Singapore Airshow & Events Pte Ltd (SAe), co-organisers of Singapore International Water Week, “The strong take-up of exhibition space at this year’s Water Expo is a very positive outcome especially against a backdrop of an unprecedented global economic downturn and challenging business climate. This growth is a testimony of the endorsement and robust support from our exhibitors and partners. The Water Expo is now an event of choice in the water industry’s calendar of must-attend events.” Already more than 20% of exhibition space, including that booked by some Founding Sponsors, have been reserved by exhibitors for next year’s Water Expo.
A total of twenty-eight new products and technologies were unveiled for the first time in Asia or the world at the Water Expo’s Innovation Corner, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for such global and regional launches.
Nine market-centric business forums covering key water markets such as China, India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia were held with full-house capacity at each session. The new forum on “Financing for Water Infrastructure & Technologies” addressed how the credit crisis has affected the financing of water projects and what business opportunities could emerge from the changing financial landscape.
Apart from these, more than 70 co-located events were held alongside the Water Week. They include the 7th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia Pacific Region and the International Water Association (IWA)’s Leading Edge Conference for Water and Wastewater Technologies.
Agreements signed between water authorities and companies from Singapore, India, Japan, Middle East, Europe and US; water fund launched to attract S$435m (US$320m) in Asian water investments, which ADB also vows to boost.
SINGAPORE (30 June 2008) - Governments, utilities providers and water companies signed 27 agreements totalling more than SGD367 million (USD270 million) during the first Singapore International Water Week, which drew to a close last Friday. In addition, a water fund was launched to attract SGD435 million (USD320 million) in investments in Asian water projects.
The global event for the water industry also saw governments and international organisations announcing significant initiatives to prioritise water investments and research. Singapore plans to set up an Institute of Water Policy to research water policy and governance in Asia, and Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda unveiled a seven-point agenda for prioritising water investments in the Asia-Pacific, saying that the bank was committed to helping states in the region boost new water investments to SGD27.2 billion (USD20 billion), to improve water security. Malaysia's AmInvestment Bank and Singapore water firm Konzen launched a water fund that hopes to pull in SGD435 million (USD320 million) to invest in Asian water projects.
Among the business deals concluded was one worth an estimated SGD272 million (USD200 million) over the next three years for Singapore-based Ayser-Technische Corporation and Acuatico. The two signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up a joint venture to design, construct and operate private water infrastructure projects in Indonesia. They also teamed up to provide and run central water treatment facilities for all future developments by Bakrieland, the largest developer listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange.
Black & Veatch, a global engineering, construction and consulting company, clinched about SGD46 million (USD34 million) worth of projects in the Singapore, Australian and Hong Kong water markets, while US-based Marmon Water, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of residential and commercial water treatment systems, will build the SGD24 million (USD18 million) Marmon Water Manufacturing Plant in Singapore to produce filtration systems and components for the worldwide residential water treatment market.
A Singapore company, tech start-up AridTec, found distributors for its patent-pending atmospheric water harvesting solutions, which produce water from the air, in more than 10 countries in the Middle East, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Secured through its wholly owned subsidiary AirQua International, the distribution deals are expected to earn more than SGD16 million (USD12 million) within the first year.
Siemens Water Technologies won a SGD4 million (USD2.9 million) grant from the Singapore Government to research seawater desalination at the SGD60 million (USD44 million) global water centre it launched in Singapore in June last year, while Nitto Denko, a leading diversified materials manufacturer, will become the first Japanese enterprise to set up a SGD6 million (USD4.4 million) water R&D centre on the island. The global infrastructure and environment firm CDM announced it would open a Technical Centre for Integrated Water Management and Urban Planning in Singapore, to promote the use of advanced planning and simulation models, decision software and geospatial information systems in the management of urban environments.
CH2M Hill, a leading water programme management, construction management, technical consulting and design firm, said it was establishing a SGD13,600 (USD10,000) study grant award for students pursuing a water engineering-related master’s degree in Singapore, to be given to one recipient this year and another in 2009.
Singapore’s water ministry and water agency inked agreements of their own, with the support of the country’s Economic Development Board. These include Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with three private firms. An agreement between Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, and French waste and water management company SUEZ Environnement, will see joint projects on filtration membranes, water recycling, water analytics and hydroinformatics. With Japan’s Teijin, PUB will undertake joint R&D on used water treatment, and with Singapore-based Optiqua Technologies, a collaboration on biosensor technology.
There were bilateral agreements with water authorities in other countries as well. An MOU between Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and its counterpart in the United Arab Emirates will see cooperation on water research and management, environmental protection and sustainable development. MOUs with two Bahraini government agencies will see PUB providing consultancy and training services for sewerage and sanitary systems in the Kingdom, and undertaking joint projects in water management. In India, PUB will work with the Water Supply and Sanitation Board in the state of Maharashtra to minimise water wastage and improve infrastructure in Indian cities and towns.
Singapore water companies won significant contracts too. A Singapore consortium comprising CPG Consultants and PICO Art International and supported by PUB Consultants secured a contract to do the conceptual design study for the King Abdullah Water Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Many of these agreements were formalised at regional business forums during the Water Week. These were designed as exclusive networking sessions between governments, utilities providers and water solutions companies in Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan, the Middle East and South-east Asia.
The Water Expo, a trade show that brought together more than 350 participants from some 40 countries, provided additional opportunities for business networking. Deals worth USD1 million or more were concluded by exhibitors such as Hydranautics, Koch Membrane Systems, Nalco Pacific and EIMCO Water Technologies.
The inaugural Singapore International Water Week also featured policy and scientific components – the Water Leaders Summit, a gathering of government officials and industry leaders, and the Water Convention, a scientific conference. A highlight of the Water Week was the presentation of the first Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize to Dr Andrew Benedek, the Canadian researcher and technopreneur who pioneered the development of low-pressure membranes, which made it possible to derive drinking water from even highly polluted sources, and at a lower cost.
The Water Week, which was attended by more than 8,500 representatives from governments, utilities providers, businesses and academia, was held concurrently with two other conferences on sustainability – the World Cities Summit and the East Asia Summit Conference on Liveable Cities. In a speech on 25 June at the Water Leaders Summit, Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large and the chairman of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum Governing Council, said: “Water is essential for life. There are over 1 billion people in the world, 700 million in Asia alone, who do not have access to safe drinking water. The time has come for us to recognise people’s access to safe drinking water and to sustainable sanitation as a human right.”
Summing up the conclusions of the Water Leaders Summit, Professor Koh said that participants had shared a common vision to “make our cities sustainable, vibrant and liveable”. Cities should strive for a number of common goals, among them “safe drinking water, sustainable sanitation, clean air, a good living environment, the efficient use of natural resources, including water and energy, the protection and conservation of biodiversity, good jobs, safety, efficient transportation, affordable housing, a balance between the built environment and greenery, a balance between retaining a city’s history and heritage and modernity, a culture of tolerance and diversity, centres of learning, good food, vibrant culture and low or zero corruption”.
At the same event, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said: “I am confident that this summit has given all of us present the opportunity to exchange views on how to solve various water challenges through effective governance and implementation, investments in technology and innovation, and sound policies and principles. I am sure the exchange of ideas, especially on water solutions and applications, will give everyone food for thought when we tackle the challenges we face in our own cities.”
The proceedings of the Water Leaders Summit will be written up as a “blue paper” and presented at the World Water Week in Stockholm this August and the World Water Forum in Turkey next March.
Mr Michael Toh, General Manager of the Singapore International Water Week, said: “Our goal was to achieve the sorts of synergies you get only when the water industry’s key players are in the same room, and on the same page. And there is no doubt that the Singapore International Water Week has accomplished that. We hope to do even better when we return next year.”
About the Singapore International Water Week
The Singapore International Water Week is the global platform for water solutions. It brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
The inaugural Water Week, held from 23 to 27 June at Suntec Singapore, centred on the theme “Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities”. Some 8,500 delegates and trade visitors attended the event to discuss the latest challenges, best practices and technologies in the water industry. The annual event features the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, Business Forums and Water Festival, as well as the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize for innovative contributions in solving the world’s water problems.
The first winner of this prestigious international award is Dr Andrew Benedek, a Canadian researcher and successful technopreneur, who delivered the Singapore Water Lecture during the Water Week. In addition, a number of significant business deals and collaborations were announced by industry players on the sidelines of the Water Week, including several important MOUs signed between Singapore and various countries.
Flagship Programmes
The event’s flagship programmes comprise:- Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
- Water Leaders Summit
- Water Convention
- Water Expo
- Business Forums
Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize is the highlight of the Singapore International Water Week. This award honours outstanding contributions towards solving global water problems by either applying technologies or implementing innovative policies and programmes which benefit humanity.Water Leaders Summit
The Water Leaders Summit is a by-invitation only annual meeting, bringing together ministers, mayors, senior government officials, global water industry leaders, heads of international organizations, leading researchers and practitioners for a meaningful discourse on pressing water governance, technology and business issues that impact communities worldwide.Water Convention
The Water Convention is a platform for industry experts, regulators, academics to interact and share ideas on a wide range of water challenges.Water Expo
The Water Expo has grown to become one of Asia's most important and comprehensive water trade show that focuses on innovations, products and services as well as best practices, successful case studies and the practical application of water technologies that are suitable across all industries.Business Forums
The Business Forums offer captains of the water industry an extensive spread of business networking, partnership formation and lucrative deal-making opportunities across eight markets covering the Americas, Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan, the Middle-East & North Africa and Southeast Asia.Singapore International Water Week 2011
Fourth Singapore International Water Week Surges to New HighEvent’s success sees significant growth in size and increase in international participation since inception, cementing status as leading global platform for water solutions.
Singapore, 12 July 2011: Singapore International Water Week 2011, held from 4 – 8 July and themed “Sustainable Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment” notched new highs, with a bigger slate of exhibiting companies and an encouraging growth in participant numbers.
This global platform for water solutions attracted a record of some 13,500 participants from 99 countries/regions. This marks a growth in attendance figures of almost 60% since the inaugural event in 2008. The Water Expo saw close to 70% growth in exhibition space and a 70% increase in the number of exhibiting companies over the inaugural year of 2008. Over 600 companies took part in this year’s Water Expo, which attracted six new international pavilions from Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Milwaukee Water Council (USA), the Water Environment Federation (USA), and the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership (USA); taking the total number of pavilions to 15. The total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments and R&D MOUs reached S$2.9 billion.
Mr Michael Toh, Managing Director of the Singapore International Water Week, said “We are extremely pleased with the strong industry support for the Singapore International Water Week. Water management remains a vital focus area for governments and industries in today’s challenging global landscape, which is marked by growing population and rapid urbanisation. The Water Week’s ability in bringing together global water leaders from the public sector, the private sector and academia, augurs well for the growing global water industry in ensuring a continual dialogue and identifying governance, business and technological solutions to address this common challenge.”
The first ever UK Pavilion was supported by the UK Trade and Investment department, responsible for promoting export and import, and hosted by British Water, the trade association for the UK water and wastewater industry. Bridget Orr, British Water Marketing Executive said, “We have been very impressed by the calibre of the other exhibitors and the professionalism of the exhibition organisation. Our companies have made excellent contacts with key utilities and companies across the region. We look forward to developing the relationships we have made at Singapore International Water Week, and to continue to showcase and share UK expertise and experience in innovation, technology, high quality manufacturing and asset management.”
Similar success was experienced at the Milwaukee Water Council Pavilion. Dean Amhaus, Executive Director, Milwaukee Water Council said, “Our decision to create a larger pavilion with higher visibility clearly helped our old friends find us and our new friends to discover us during the week. Most importantly, we believe that we were able to make some connections with businesses and organisations that will develop into important partnerships in the near future. Certainly Singapore International Water Week will be at the top of our list for participation in 2012.”
Said Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Experia Events, the event organiser of Singapore International Water Week, “The continuing sell-out success at this year’s Water Expo is testimony to the fact that policymakers and industry players are looking at this showcase as a must-attend event with its rich offering of business and networking opportunities. This year, many exhibitors displayed their latest range of innovative products and services, in addition to taking up more exhibition space. We are already receiving bookings from both returning exhibitors and new reservations for next year’s Water Expo.”
The focus on new technology and innovation was a particular highlight for this year’s event, in line with Singapore’s position as a key driver in the research and development of new water solutions. The inaugural Water Innovations@SIWW showcased five new technologies spawned in Singapore, while TechXchange, provided a platform connecting potential inventors with the researchers behind these technologies.
Said Dr Chen Zhong, Associate Professor and Assistant Chair (Undergraduates) at the School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, “The TechXchange workshop provided an excellent opportunity to bring our R&D technologies to the market. The interaction also enables researchers to stay more focused on critical issues facing the industry in their future research.”
Investors attending the workshop echoed this endorsement. Dr Helge Daebel, Senior Specialist, Emerald Ventures said, “The workshop offered good insights into very interesting technical developments from the research organisations in Singapore. What needs to happen next is to match them with a strong entrepreneurial mind-set. During the panel discussion, industry thought leaders shared stimulating comments in that direction.”
In addition, more than 30 new products and technologies made their regional and international debut at the Water Expo’s Launch@SIWW innovation showcase, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for companies looking to promote their new products to key markets in the world.
The fifth Singapore International Water Week will be held from 1 to 5 July 2012 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands. The theme will be “Water Solutions for Liveable and Sustainable Cities.
Singapore International Water Week 2010
Third Edition of Singapore International Water Week Hits New HighsTotal value of announcements exceeded S$2.8 billion and overall increase in participation at the leading global platform for water solutions.
The recently concluded Singapore International Water Week 2010 (28 June to 2 July 2010) ended on a high note for many local and international water companies, where the total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments into Singapore and R&D MOUs exceeded S$2.8 billion, up by 27% from last year’s S$2.2 billion. The event, which was held together with the World Cities Summit this year, also saw a record increase in the number of trade attendees to over 14,000 from 85 countries/regions.
“We are extremely pleased with the positive outcome at the 2010 Singapore International Water Week which continues to grow into its third year. The continued strong support from participating countries and regions is an affirmation of our vision to be the global platform for water solutions. Despite the uncertain global economic recovery, water remains a key focus area for governments and industries as cities around the world continue to grow at an unprecedented rate with rapid urbanisation. Many countries continue to seek clean and affordable solutions to meet their respective needs and use the Water Week as a platform for learning, exchange and networking. We are delighted with the significant increase in the total value of announcements during the week. It augurs well for the growing water sector across the globe and in ensuring delivery of water services where needed,” said Michael Toh, Managing Director of Singapore International Water Week.
'Key announcements'
Some of the more significant deals closed at last week’s Water Week included the combined S$69 million contract clinched by home-grown water company, Moya Dayen Limited, from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority in Cambodia for Phase 1 of the Niroth Water Production Facilities Project. Awarded in two contracts, Moya Dayen will undertake the supply, delivery, and construction of a 25 metres high intake tower located in the Mekong River, a raw water pumping station and a raw water transmission main as well as other ancillary works.
Under the second contract, Moya Dayen will construct a water treatment plant which includes treated water tanks, a treated water transmission main and other ancillary buildings. When completed, the Niroth Water Production Facilities – Phase I will be one of the largest water treatment facilities, producing 130,000m3/day of potable water, to serve the greater Phnom Penh population.
During the week, another Singapore home-grown energy, water and marine group, Sembcorp, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), worth S$280 million to expand seawater desalination capacity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the local front, the company announced that it will develop a new integrated wastewater treatment facility in Jurong Island’s Tembusu District.
A local subsidiary of Boustead, a global infrastructure engineering company, was awarded a S$21 million contract for the first new water recycling plant in UAE.
Several collaborative agreements were also signed during the week including the joint development of Optiqua’s real time sensor technology by Optiqua Technologies, a subsidiary of Dutch optical sensor company Optisense and national water agency PUB, as well as a joint research and technology testing program to further develop energy-efficient water and wastewater treatment solutions by ITT Corporation and PUB.
Global Water Intelligence, the leading information service for the international water industry also announced its plans to set up its Asia office in PUB’s WaterHub, a centre for technology, learning and networking and home to many renowned water-related organisations such as the Singapore Water Association, International Water Association, Netherlands Water House, Singapore Society for Trenchless Technology, and R&D institutes of leading water players like Siemens, Nitto Denko and Optiqua Technologies.
'Encouraging statistics'
Demonstrating the event’s growing global appeal and significance, this year’s Water Week received strong support from the global community, including key international organisations, as well as the government, industry, research and consultancy sectors from 85 countries. Feedback from the participants on the Water Week and its pillar events such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, Business Forums and the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize has been very positive all-round.
The number of high-level delegates at the Water Leaders Summit jumped 22% to 379, including participation by board members of UN Secretary-General Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, Crown Prince of Orange, President of the Republic of Maldives, Vice President of World Bank, the Water and Environment Ministers of Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates as well as CEOs of leading international global water companies and water organisations.
At the Water Convention, over 1,000 experts, academics and practitioners came together to discuss the advancements and challenges in water technologies. In particular, the enhanced networking and business opportunities, such as the Industry-to-Industry networking sessions to enable cross industry interaction at the Water Week were well received as testified by the robust attendance at every session. The number of participants in 2010 represented an increase of almost 20% over the preceding year.
The Water Expo, a major water trade show showcasing the latest and widest range of products, services and water technologies, saw a record turnout with a total of eight country pavilions, boosted by the debut of two new country pavilions from Canada and Korea. The Water Expo was completely sold out in the month leading to the start of the event. Following their success in previous editions of the Water Week, Japanese companies turned up in full force and showcased their latest water solutions in an expanded Japan Pavilion, which was double the space compared to last year. The Expo also featured more than 500 participating companies from nearly 40 countries/regions.
Said Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Singapore Airshow & Events Pte Ltd (SAe), co-event organisers of Singapore International Water Week, “The sell out success at this year’s Water Expo is proof that water companies are looking at the Water Expo as a platform of choice and a must-attend event with a proven ROI. At this year’s event, exhibitors are showcasing a wider and even more comprehensive range of products and services, in addition to taking up bigger exhibition space and spending more on their booths. The Water Expo at Water Week 2010 has seen a better integration of co-located events and we have received very positive feedback from our exhibitors who have lauded the quality of trade visitors and the myriad offer of rich networking opportunities. We have already received bookings from both returning exhibitors and also new reservations for next year’s Water Expo.”
In all, 26 new products and technologies made their regional and international debut at the Water Expo’s Innovation Corner, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for such global and regional launches.
As one of the pillar events of the Singapore International Water Week, the eight Business Forums provided excellent premiere networking and deal-making opportunities for leading water markets in Americas, China, Europe, Australia, India, Japan, Middle East and North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Over 80 eminent speakers and distinguished industry experts from both the public and private sectors graced each of the eight business forums.
Apart from these, the number of co-located events increased by nearly 60% to 120 events, including the inaugural Asia-Pacific Water Ministers’ Forum, the 14th Meeting of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, and the first- ever River Basin & Delta Management Workshop.
“We have already begun working on the 2011 event and will continue to work on the many ideas and solutions developed and discussed at the Water Week 2010. Water Week 2011 will focus on efficient and cost-effective solutions for a changing urban environment,” added Mr Toh.
Singapore International Water Week 2009
S$2.2 billion worth of deals signed and sealed at Singapore International Water Week 2009More than 10,000 attendees from over 85 countries/regions visited the week long event which drew to a close last Friday
The second Singapore International Water Week ended on a high note for many local and international water companies who sealed deals totalling S$2.2 billion, nearly six times the amount achieved last year.
Said Mr Michael Toh, Managing Director of Singapore International Water Week, “We are greatly encouraged by the strong response to this year’s Singapore International Water Week. Despite trying economic conditions, the six-fold increase in the value of deals signed during the week shows that the water industry is poised for further growth. Water remains a key area for many governments and industries. They are continuously seeking cost-effective and sustainable solutions to their water problems and have managed to find some of the answers at the Singapore International Water Week. Our show, only in its second year, is proving to be a key draw for water leaders and businesses, not just in this region, but around the world.”
'Key deals concluded'
Hyflux signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ABB for Hyflux’s Algeria Magtaa Project worth S$28 million. Another MOU was signed with Dutch Technology Foundation STW, for a partnership research programme on advanced membrane separation technologies. The programme is expected to have a value of some S$6 million.
Hyflux also signed a joint venture with the Libyan state-owned General Desalination Company for a venture to build two seawater desalination plants in Tripoli and Benghazi with a combined capacity of more than 900,000 cu m / day.
The fruit of GE and National University of Singapore (NUS) partnership is the S$150 million research and development centre that was opened during the Water Week. The NUS-GE Singapore Water Technology Centre - within the school of engineering at the National University of Singapore - aims to develop safe drinking water systems across Asia and will develop new solutions for low-energy seawater desalination, water reclamation and more efficient water reuse.
Toray Industries, Inc. announced the establishment of a S$10 million Toray Water Technology Laboratory. The water laboratory will conduct research and development of water treatment technologies focusing on membrane-based water technologies and innovative water treatment technologies in the area of membrane fouling mechanism.
Local water player Dayen Environment signed a MOU, totalling S$10 million, with two European partners, ConSideR Group and Colsen International to provide sustainable water solutions to Asia and the Middle East region.
'Encouraging statistics'
Despite the economic crisis and the impact of Influenza A (H1N1), the Water Week received strong support from the global community, including key international organisations, as well as the government, industry, research and consultancy sectors. More than 10,000 trade attendees comprising delegates, visitors and exhibitors from over 85 countries/regions participated in this year’s Water Week, surpassing the attendance of 8,500 last year. Feedback from the participants on the Water Week and its pillar events such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention and Water Expo, has been very positive all-round.
The Water Leaders Summit attracted about 300 high-level delegates from 49 countries including the Crown Prince of Orange, President of Asian Development Bank, Vice President of World Bank, the Water and Environment Ministers of Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka and Laos as well as CEOs of international global water companies and water organisations.
Over at the Water Convention, more than 800 experts, academics and practitioners from 68 countries came together to discuss the advancements and challenges in water technologies.
In particular, the enhanced networking and business opportunities, like the Industry-to-Industry networking sessions to enable cross industry interaction at the Water Week were well received as testified by the robust attendance at every session.
The Water Expo, a major water trade show showcasing the latest and widest range of products, services and water technologies, was a sell-out event. The entire 12,000 sq m of covered exhibition space was completely sold out. The Singapore Pavilion, showcasing Singapore’s water story as well as the capabilities of local industry, expanded five-fold to 1,000 sq m this year. The Expo featured more than 420 exhibiting companies from some 28 countries/regions.
Said Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Singapore Airshow & Events Pte Ltd (SAe), co-organisers of Singapore International Water Week, “The strong take-up of exhibition space at this year’s Water Expo is a very positive outcome especially against a backdrop of an unprecedented global economic downturn and challenging business climate. This growth is a testimony of the endorsement and robust support from our exhibitors and partners. The Water Expo is now an event of choice in the water industry’s calendar of must-attend events.” Already more than 20% of exhibition space, including that booked by some Founding Sponsors, have been reserved by exhibitors for next year’s Water Expo.
A total of twenty-eight new products and technologies were unveiled for the first time in Asia or the world at the Water Expo’s Innovation Corner, signalling a strong endorsement of the Water Week as an important platform for such global and regional launches.
Nine market-centric business forums covering key water markets such as China, India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia were held with full-house capacity at each session. The new forum on “Financing for Water Infrastructure & Technologies” addressed how the credit crisis has affected the financing of water projects and what business opportunities could emerge from the changing financial landscape.
Apart from these, more than 70 co-located events were held alongside the Water Week. They include the 7th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia Pacific Region and the International Water Association (IWA)’s Leading Edge Conference for Water and Wastewater Technologies.
Singapore International Water Week 2008
Singapore's first Water Week sees deals worth over S$367m (US$270m) and international initiatives to boost water research and investmentsAgreements signed between water authorities and companies from Singapore, India, Japan, Middle East, Europe and US; water fund launched to attract S$435m (US$320m) in Asian water investments, which ADB also vows to boost.
SINGAPORE (30 June 2008) - Governments, utilities providers and water companies signed 27 agreements totalling more than SGD367 million (USD270 million) during the first Singapore International Water Week, which drew to a close last Friday. In addition, a water fund was launched to attract SGD435 million (USD320 million) in investments in Asian water projects.
The global event for the water industry also saw governments and international organisations announcing significant initiatives to prioritise water investments and research. Singapore plans to set up an Institute of Water Policy to research water policy and governance in Asia, and Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda unveiled a seven-point agenda for prioritising water investments in the Asia-Pacific, saying that the bank was committed to helping states in the region boost new water investments to SGD27.2 billion (USD20 billion), to improve water security. Malaysia's AmInvestment Bank and Singapore water firm Konzen launched a water fund that hopes to pull in SGD435 million (USD320 million) to invest in Asian water projects.
Among the business deals concluded was one worth an estimated SGD272 million (USD200 million) over the next three years for Singapore-based Ayser-Technische Corporation and Acuatico. The two signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up a joint venture to design, construct and operate private water infrastructure projects in Indonesia. They also teamed up to provide and run central water treatment facilities for all future developments by Bakrieland, the largest developer listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange.
Black & Veatch, a global engineering, construction and consulting company, clinched about SGD46 million (USD34 million) worth of projects in the Singapore, Australian and Hong Kong water markets, while US-based Marmon Water, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of residential and commercial water treatment systems, will build the SGD24 million (USD18 million) Marmon Water Manufacturing Plant in Singapore to produce filtration systems and components for the worldwide residential water treatment market.
A Singapore company, tech start-up AridTec, found distributors for its patent-pending atmospheric water harvesting solutions, which produce water from the air, in more than 10 countries in the Middle East, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Secured through its wholly owned subsidiary AirQua International, the distribution deals are expected to earn more than SGD16 million (USD12 million) within the first year.
Siemens Water Technologies won a SGD4 million (USD2.9 million) grant from the Singapore Government to research seawater desalination at the SGD60 million (USD44 million) global water centre it launched in Singapore in June last year, while Nitto Denko, a leading diversified materials manufacturer, will become the first Japanese enterprise to set up a SGD6 million (USD4.4 million) water R&D centre on the island. The global infrastructure and environment firm CDM announced it would open a Technical Centre for Integrated Water Management and Urban Planning in Singapore, to promote the use of advanced planning and simulation models, decision software and geospatial information systems in the management of urban environments.
CH2M Hill, a leading water programme management, construction management, technical consulting and design firm, said it was establishing a SGD13,600 (USD10,000) study grant award for students pursuing a water engineering-related master’s degree in Singapore, to be given to one recipient this year and another in 2009.
Singapore’s water ministry and water agency inked agreements of their own, with the support of the country’s Economic Development Board. These include Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with three private firms. An agreement between Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, and French waste and water management company SUEZ Environnement, will see joint projects on filtration membranes, water recycling, water analytics and hydroinformatics. With Japan’s Teijin, PUB will undertake joint R&D on used water treatment, and with Singapore-based Optiqua Technologies, a collaboration on biosensor technology.
There were bilateral agreements with water authorities in other countries as well. An MOU between Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and its counterpart in the United Arab Emirates will see cooperation on water research and management, environmental protection and sustainable development. MOUs with two Bahraini government agencies will see PUB providing consultancy and training services for sewerage and sanitary systems in the Kingdom, and undertaking joint projects in water management. In India, PUB will work with the Water Supply and Sanitation Board in the state of Maharashtra to minimise water wastage and improve infrastructure in Indian cities and towns.
Singapore water companies won significant contracts too. A Singapore consortium comprising CPG Consultants and PICO Art International and supported by PUB Consultants secured a contract to do the conceptual design study for the King Abdullah Water Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Many of these agreements were formalised at regional business forums during the Water Week. These were designed as exclusive networking sessions between governments, utilities providers and water solutions companies in Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan, the Middle East and South-east Asia.
The Water Expo, a trade show that brought together more than 350 participants from some 40 countries, provided additional opportunities for business networking. Deals worth USD1 million or more were concluded by exhibitors such as Hydranautics, Koch Membrane Systems, Nalco Pacific and EIMCO Water Technologies.
The inaugural Singapore International Water Week also featured policy and scientific components – the Water Leaders Summit, a gathering of government officials and industry leaders, and the Water Convention, a scientific conference. A highlight of the Water Week was the presentation of the first Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize to Dr Andrew Benedek, the Canadian researcher and technopreneur who pioneered the development of low-pressure membranes, which made it possible to derive drinking water from even highly polluted sources, and at a lower cost.
The Water Week, which was attended by more than 8,500 representatives from governments, utilities providers, businesses and academia, was held concurrently with two other conferences on sustainability – the World Cities Summit and the East Asia Summit Conference on Liveable Cities. In a speech on 25 June at the Water Leaders Summit, Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large and the chairman of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum Governing Council, said: “Water is essential for life. There are over 1 billion people in the world, 700 million in Asia alone, who do not have access to safe drinking water. The time has come for us to recognise people’s access to safe drinking water and to sustainable sanitation as a human right.”
Summing up the conclusions of the Water Leaders Summit, Professor Koh said that participants had shared a common vision to “make our cities sustainable, vibrant and liveable”. Cities should strive for a number of common goals, among them “safe drinking water, sustainable sanitation, clean air, a good living environment, the efficient use of natural resources, including water and energy, the protection and conservation of biodiversity, good jobs, safety, efficient transportation, affordable housing, a balance between the built environment and greenery, a balance between retaining a city’s history and heritage and modernity, a culture of tolerance and diversity, centres of learning, good food, vibrant culture and low or zero corruption”.
At the same event, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said: “I am confident that this summit has given all of us present the opportunity to exchange views on how to solve various water challenges through effective governance and implementation, investments in technology and innovation, and sound policies and principles. I am sure the exchange of ideas, especially on water solutions and applications, will give everyone food for thought when we tackle the challenges we face in our own cities.”
The proceedings of the Water Leaders Summit will be written up as a “blue paper” and presented at the World Water Week in Stockholm this August and the World Water Forum in Turkey next March.
Mr Michael Toh, General Manager of the Singapore International Water Week, said: “Our goal was to achieve the sorts of synergies you get only when the water industry’s key players are in the same room, and on the same page. And there is no doubt that the Singapore International Water Week has accomplished that. We hope to do even better when we return next year.”
About the Singapore International Water Week
The Singapore International Water Week is the global platform for water solutions. It brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
The inaugural Water Week, held from 23 to 27 June at Suntec Singapore, centred on the theme “Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities”. Some 8,500 delegates and trade visitors attended the event to discuss the latest challenges, best practices and technologies in the water industry. The annual event features the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, Business Forums and Water Festival, as well as the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize for innovative contributions in solving the world’s water problems.
The first winner of this prestigious international award is Dr Andrew Benedek, a Canadian researcher and successful technopreneur, who delivered the Singapore Water Lecture during the Water Week. In addition, a number of significant business deals and collaborations were announced by industry players on the sidelines of the Water Week, including several important MOUs signed between Singapore and various countries.
References
- http://www.siww.com.sg/media/fourth-singapore-international-water-week-surges-new-high
- http://www.siww.com.sg/media/third-edition-singapore-international-water-week-hits-new-highs
- http://www.globalsignin.com.sg/sandbox/siww09/media_announcement/index.php?id=129
- http://www.globalsignin.com.sg/sandbox/siww09/media_announcement/index.php?id=3