Gulf Construction Online - Green show grows in size and stature

Events

HH Dr Sheikh Sultan at the event

Green show grows in size and stature

01 December 2013

THE GCC’s need for initiating eco-friendly policies and investing in green technology to achieve all-round sustainable development was underscored by a premier environment event in Sharjah, UAE.

Green Middle East, an event for the regional environment management industry, featured an exhibition, several special focus areas, an awards component and a high-profile conference at the Expo Centre, Sharjah (October 28 to 30).

There was a surge of 40 per cent in visitor turnout on day one. According to initial visitor analysis, the majority of the visitors came from the UAE and the rest of the GCC, Asia and Europe.

“Green Middle East is no more just a sourcing platform. It has expanded to become a gathering point for businesses, government departments and officials, academics and students, professionals and even the common man to join hands towards a greener tomorrow,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

The event demonstrated the increasing prominence green products and practices were gaining in both the public and private sectors. “Governments are coming out with new green policies and new projects are having considerably higher eco-friendly components,” a spokesman for the Expo Centre Sharjah said.

Apart from presenting innovative technology and products that could effectively reduce, reuse, recycle, renew and recover natural resources in a cost-effective and sustainable way, the show offered a platform for businesses and government departments to assess their green initiatives.

“While exhibitors and visitors took notice of the big-ticket solar projects that became operational recently, ventures that aimed at recycling and reusing also made headlines,” Midfa pointed out.

Hosting the show for the third year in a row, Bee’ah highlighted its material recovery facility in Sharjah, the third largest in the world. It also operates the Middle East’s only cryogenic tyre recycling facility with a capacity of three million tyres per year and the region’s first solar-powered cleaning boats in Mamzar and Khaled lagoons.

This green focus earned Bee’ah’s chairman Salim Al Owais the accolade of Green Personality/Visionary of the Year at the Green Middle East Environmental Excellence Awards, which were given away on October 30. The Best Solid Waste Management Company of the Year Award also went to Bee’ah.

The Green Building Award was conferred on master developer Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) for its cultural institution and world-class museum Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Dr Nathalie Staelens, head of environmental services at TDIC, said: “We are delighted to receive this award for Louvre Abu Dhabi, which goes on to show that TDIC ensures that environmental sustainability is integrated into its developments including large-scale projects such as Louvre Abu Dhabi.”

Other winners of the Environmental Excellence Awards included Beirut Arab University (Best Wastewater Management Company of the Year), Qatar Solar Technologies (Best Alternative Energy Project), Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (Environmental Awareness and Education), Centre of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi (Natural Resource Conservation Award), Municipality of Abu Dhabi City (Best Regional Sustainability Initiative) and Smardt Chiller Group (Green Technology Award).

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the show featured more than 100 exhibitors and brands.

While individual segments included solid waste, waste water, air pollution, scrap metal, alternative energy and green building, new segments included Middle East Green Products and Equip 4 Municipalities.

The Middle East Green Products section saw the participation of more than 40 European exhibitors dealing in green and natural products.

A key selling point of Green Middle East was the introduction of new products and technology. This year too most of the exhibitors had new regional and world launches at the show.

“The show is a truly B2B platform engaging government and private entities alike,” said C Prince, managing director, Gulf ECO Friendly Services. “This year, we introduced two new technologies on water waste management.”

According to a straw poll among exhibitors, it was revealed while four out of every five exhibitors introduced new products, one out of every five exhibitors take part in the show every year to keep in touch with existing and prospective clients.