WaterTech Central Asia 2008

Divining Opportunity in Central Asia's Water Sector

Throughout the world, the dismal state of water supply in Central Asia has gained notoriety. The famous image of broken down ships beached far from shores of what remains today of the Aral Sea tragically illustrates this situation. Clearly, the imperative of securing and maintaining quality water supplies has become a critical strategic challenge facing Central Asian countries, and particularly Kazakhstan.

In order to address the urgent challenges and necessary solutions for the future of water supply in Central Asia, Kenes Exhibitions has joined with ITECA from Kazakhstan in hosting the Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference, the premier event to exchange information about these issues.

:: A Vanguard Event on a Vital Issue

The first event of its kind to include all Central Asia states, the Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference will take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan from 16 to 18 September 2008. An international conference will also take place within the framework of the exhibition.The statistics below present, at least in part, a picture of the scope and complexity of the water supply challenges facing Kazakhstan:

• Total area: 2,717,300 km2 (the second largest country among the former Soviet countries, after Russia)
• Area composition: land – 2,669,800 km2 (98.3%); water – 47,500 km2 (11.7%)
• 80.0% of the land is either desert or steppes.
• Cultivable land: 2,221,059 km2 (82.8%)
• Cultivated area: 344,560 km2 (15.5% of the cultivable land)
• 33.7 km3 of water was sourced from rivers and other flowing sources, of which 80% was used in agriculture (1993).
• Irrigated area: 35,000 km2 (only 10% of the cultivated area). Of this area, only 66% used controlled irrigation techniques.
• Irrigated areas (by sprinklers): only 5,500 km2 – and the absence of the use of micro irrigation techniques (1993).

:: Kazakhstan: Exceeding Expectations

• Population: 16,731,303 (6.15 persons per km2).
• GDP: $125.3 billion (est.)
• GDP (per capita): $8,300 (est.)
• GDP (real growth rate): 9.5%
• Unemployment: 8.1%
• Inflation: 7.6%
• Agricultural products: grain, cotton, livestock
• Natural resources: oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
• In 1996, 40% of the population lived in rural areas

As the statistics compellingly show, there is much to be done in the water sector of Central Asia in general, and in Kazakhstan in particular. The Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference is the place to gain the knowledge and contacts that will turn this potential into a reality.

:: Main Sections of the Exhibition

• Advanced Irrigation Systems
• Desalination
• Water Management & Flow Control
• Water Quality & Water Treatment
• Waste Water Treatment (Reclamation & Purification)
• Monitoring & Measurement Devices
• Leakage Control
• Water Security
• Research & Development
• Knowledge Transfer
• Turnkey Projects

We give a neutral rating to this event with ROI upto 30%.