More than 10,000 attendees from over 85 countries/regions visited the week long event which drew to a close last Friday Singapore, 29 June 2009 - 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. “We are very pleased with the success of this year’s Water Week, especially so because some of our sponsors, partners and supporting organisations have had a fruitful time.  Even as we say goodbye to Water Week 2009, we are already looking forward to 2010 where the focus will be on efficient and cost-effective solutions to provide safe drinking water at an affordable price to the masses amid the global economic downturn. Next year’s show, to be co-located with the World Cities Summit 2010, will be even more exciting!” added Mr Toh. For more information, log onto www.siww.com.sg For interview requests, please contact: Lee Ling Ling Consultant DID: +65 6372 3561 HP: +65 9647 8917 Email: lingling@bang.com.sg Louann Wong Associate DID: +65 6372 3565 HP: +65 9728 8771 Email: louann@bang.com.sg For further information, contact (Singapore International Water Week): Sally Toh, Sally_Toh@pub.gov.sg Teo Yin Yin, Teo_Yin_Yin@pub.gov.sg