News

The World Water Expo was held in parallel to the 4th World Water Forum between 16 and 21 March 2006 at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City.

This is  one of the most important exhibitions in the world, not only because of the number of exhibitors from many different countries, but also because of the high level of the visitors expected (senior figures from water-sector organisations at the Forum and Ministerial Conference, business executives, industrial buyers and researchers).

There were 14 official pavilions (Spain, Japan, France, Portugal, Mexico, Germany, Israel, Korea, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, United Status and Canada) with a 25,000 professional visitors expected to attend.

The sector topics around which the exhibition is based include wastewater treatment, water purification and distribution systems, irrigation-control systems, filtration, chemical engineering, hydraulic engineering, electricity generation and water-pumping.

The 4th World Water Forum met in Mexico City between 16 and 22 March 2006. The Forum is world’s largest freshwater event, aiming to provide multiple stakeholders an opportunity for participation and dialogue to influence water-related political decision-making at a global level, in the quest for sustainable development.

The key topic of the Forum, "Local Actions for a Global Challenge", was approached via five topic groups: water for growth and development, implementing the integrated management of water resources (GIRH), water supply and sanitation services for all, water management for food and the environment, and risk management. Over 200 topic sessions were held, with approximately 20,000 participants, representing governments, UN agencies, inter-governmental organisations and non-government organisations (NGOs), academia, industry, indigenous groups, young people and the media.

The Forum closed with a Ministerial Conference, at which around 140 ministers and senior civil servants meet in open and closed sessions, including dialogues and round tables on various aspects of water management. A ministerial declaration was finally adopted, calling for international action on water and sanitation issues.