This year China’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, IE Expo China, organized by Messe Muenchen took place from May 4 to 6 in Shanghai at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). IFAT’s successful Chinese spin-off achieved incredible new records: over 55’000 visitors from 60 different countries, a 28% increase compared to the previous year, 1637 exhibitors, which equates to a rise of 26% compared to 2016 and 3 additional exhibition halls at SNIEC, a total of 9 halls and a tremendous increase of 39% more floor space. To point out this success, it should be mentioned that the trade fair started eleven years ago in one hall only.

During this three days, local and international professionals in the environmental industry sector had the opportunity to develop their business, to exchange ideas, to discuss their projects and to discover the latest innovations and solutions for water, waste, air and soil.

A special occasion was the opening of the Swiss Pavilion. Swissenviro was honored to welcome the Swiss General Consul in Shanghai Mr. Alexander Hoffet and his delegation for a little opening ceremony and business talking with Swiss Cheese and Meat.

There was a high level of participation from Europe in general, which can be attributed to the many country pavilions. After China, the highest number of exhibitors came from Germany, the USA, Italy and South Korea (in that order). There was also a joint European pavilion for the first time, which was funded by the European Commission as part of the SME Instrument’s Overseas Trade Fairs Program.

In addition to the exhibition there was an International Buyers’ Business Matchmaking Program for networking and business-talks. 200 Participants where invited shortly before the opening of the exhibition to this expert discussion. In order to support and promote the most innovative technologies a few chosen companies were given the chance to present their promising new products at the Innovation Pavilion to a jury of international experts as well as potential investors.

There were also other well visited company presentations during the exhibition. One was from our Swiss Co-Exhibitor at the Swiss Pavilion, Dr. Hans-Anton Keserue from rqmicro AG, a Swiss start-up company and ETH-spin-off. Rqmicro is developing new technologies for rapid and quantitative microbiological tests in water and food. By using rqmicro’s revolutionary technology, water and food safety labs are able to detect and quantify pathogenic bacteria within 1 to 2 hours instead of a week up to now.

Swiss Exhibitors satisfied

The Swiss Exhibitors were especially very pleased by the organization of the Swiss Pavilion, but also by the number and quality of visitors of the exhibition. Mr. Lukas Heer, Business Development Director at Hitachi Zosen INOVA (Switzerland) stated: “IE expo China is a bustling exhibition, providing plenty of opportunities to meet both potential clients and local equipment suppliers. The Swiss Pavilion of IE expo 2017 offered us a valuable platform to introduce our innovative energy from waste technology to the very dynamic Chinese market.”

Ms. Michèle Villiger, Solution Consultant at Villiger Entsorgungssysteme AG (Switzerland) pointed out the advantages of IE Expo China from a new market entry point of view: “To get a first experience of the Asian market, IE expo China, the IFAT in Shanghai, was a good experience, and together with Swissenviro, it was perfect.”

And Mr. Dr. Hans-Anton Keserue, CEO of rqmicro-rapid quantative microbiology, (Switzerland) was very content about the possibility of making new relevant business contacts: “We met diverse suppliers in environmental and water technologies at IE expo China 2017. It is a good starting point for SMEs to explore the Chinese market and make contact with suppliers and customers alike.”

The calm and pleasant weather in Shanghai as well as the great Chinese food made the evening hours after each exhibition-day an extra unforgettable experience.

IE Expo China 2017 successfully proved again its importance as a platform for networking and developing business in the Chinese and Asian environmental market.

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