Green Middle East 2013: Middle East affrms commitment to sustainability

The Green Middle East 2013 exhibition – the only carbon-neutral event of its kind in the region - offered a unique platform for companies to present a variety of technological solutions to reduce and reuse solid waste, waste water and other wastage in order to save energy, alleviate pollution and construct greener structures. Key buyers and decision makers from the regional environmental authorities, waste treatment contractors, waste collection companies, building contractors, construction contractors, civic amenities: airports, exhibition centres, shopping malls, public gatherings, labour camps, garages, park operators, hotels, car wash centres, etc. plastic manufacturers, paper manufacturers, real estate developers, township developers, free zone authorities, recycling companies, road building contractors, agricultural and irrigation contractors, drainage contractors, landscape contractors, heavy industry and various other equivalent designations visited the show.

With over 3,795 potential buyers from more than 40 different countries attending the exhibition that gathered 100+ exhibitors, Green Middle East 2013 proved to be a success in providing an unparalleled platform for the region’s leading and growing companies to discuss and promote green solutions for a better and safer tomorrow.

The Middle East has come late to the green building movement, lagging far behind the United States, Europe and Asia in building green structures that answer the call for sustainability. Inspite of this, the region is picking up its pace and is expected to spearhead environment protection in the coming years.

The UAE is growing steadily towards a greener and eco-friendly mindset; according to statistics from the Ministry of Environment and Water. In 2010, the UAE had 13 organic farms – ones that do not use pesticides, hormones or antibiotics – and 23 more are being developed. More and more shops and markets selling organic food, beauty products, clothing and cleaning materials as well as organic cafés, green initiatives and green building laws are cropping up. The UAE’s green market is expected to post substantial growth from $1.37 trillion a year to $2.74 trillion by 2020, according to a recent report from the International Chamber of Commerce. The cost differential of being environment-friendly has come down from a high of 15% -18% about a decade ago to less than 4% or 5% now, when compared with the overall cost of making conventional buildings.

“The response our exhibitors received during the show was beyond their expectations. The advertising campaigns and the cooperation from our end as organisers were commended by a majority of our exhibitors. We are looking forward to an even bigger and grander show. Based on our feedback from our exhibitors, we would be looking at over 70% of our exhibitors partaking in Green Middle East 2014 as well,” Saif Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre, Sharjah said.

As the organisers said, exhibitors reported good sales numbers to not only from UAE customers, but also from other GCC countries as customers from outside the UAE become more aware on the need for an environmental revolution in their regions, making the environment management industry a booming concept in sectors for waste management, waste water management, alternate energy, waste-energy, scrap recycling, recycling, green building and green products.

The UAE has also announced theAir Max 1 Master