Successful prelude to the IFAT month: Record number of visitors at IE expo China 2018
This year's May is marked by the IFAT trade fairs – that is what IE expo China, IFAT’s Chinese spin-off, demonstrated from May 3 to 5, 2018 in Shanghai. During these three days, 66,580 visitors from 59 countries and regions came to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) to catch up on the latest environmental technologies and solutions for the Asian market.
Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München, draws a positive conclusion: “I could not have imagined a more successful prelude to the IFAT May. The outstanding record figures of this year’s IE expo China emphasize that this trade show is ready to follow in the footsteps of its parent exhibition.” The 66,580 visitors to IE expo China 2018 equal a 21 percent increase compared to the previous year. The majority of guests came from the China mainland itself. Thereafter, the most important countries and regions of origin were (in that order): South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, Germany, Thailand, India, the US, Singapore and Russia, respectively.
China: Driving force of the environmental industry
Zhao Lijun, President of the China Environment Chamber of Commerce, said: “The growth witnessed by IE expo China reflects the enormous economic power behind the Chinese market for environmental technologies.” Peter Kurth, President of the Federation of the German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Industry (BDU), concurred: ”China is increasingly developing into a driving force of the environmental sector. The numerous governmental initiatives currently in the works underscore the will of the country to establish a sustainable circular economy.
The best example is the latest waste import ban. Interest in GermanChinese cooperation for the sustainable recycling economy has been distinctly noticeable at IE expo China.” The import also was a big issue of discussion at the exhibition: after first import restrictions earlier this year, China recently targeted further types of waste. Next year, 16 types, including e-waste and industrial plastic waste, will be excluded from import; in 2020, 16 others will follow.
Hence, interest in the topic of recycling was large, as confirmed by Wang Tao, Vice President of Infore Environment Technology Group: “This was the third year in a row that we exhibited at IE expo China. But this year, the amount of interest was enormous. We met a lot of visitors, including partners and customers.” The suppliers of water and sewage technologies expressed their satisfaction equally. According to Xu Xiaojun, Sales Manager at Huber Environmental Technology (China), “IE expo China is big and influential. Through the exhibition, we strengthen our brand and present new products to the market.”
Exhibition extends its lead in Asia The trade show also witnessed new all-time highs with regard to exhibitors and floor space: the 1,762 companies presented their solutions for water, waste, air and soil in an exhibition space of 128,000 square meters. “Under the circumstance of stricter environmental policies, there are urgent demands on high-quality environmental solutions. As the leading environment trade show, IE expo China gets much attention and support of the governments, which reflects its significant role played in the industry”, Jiang Gang, Managing Director of Messe Muenchen Zhongmao Co., Ltd. commented. IE expo China also has improved in terms of knowledge exchange: with 400 events the supporting program was more extensive than ever before.
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