The leading role that the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) is playing in the global search for energy demand solutions was highlighted to eminent Indian personalities and corporate leaders during roadshows in New Delhi on 26 September and Ahmedabad on 27 September.
Each event was attended by around 40 VIP guests from various Indian companies and industries who were encouraged to participate in the sixth edition of World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi from January 15 to 17 2013.
The roadshows were jointly arranged by the Commercial Office of the Embassy of United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and event organiser Reed Exhibitions.
Show Director Mr Naji El Haddad from Reed Exhibitions briefed the gathering on the latest developments and innovations for the 2013 summit, and provided an overview on renewable energy projects in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.
“The World Future Energy Summit is now seen as a very important global event, which brings together world leaders, policy makers, business leaders, financiers and entrepreneurs to address the key issues affecting the future of energy.”
“The event is about finding innovative and sustainable solutions to the world’s energy demand challenges, and to reflect this focus, next year’s theme will be ‘Powering the Future of Energy Innovation’. Although the challenges are global in nature, the summit will also seek solutions to regional issues,” said Mr El Haddad.
The Summit represents a business platform bringing project owners and solution providers face- to-face with investors and buyers from both the public and private sectors. The 2012 event attracted 26,200 attendees from 137 countries.
During the India roadshows, Dr Sudhir Kapur, Chairman, CII Task Force on Solar Energy, spoke of the huge growing opportunities for India and the Gulf countries to work together, and urged Indian companies to participate at the 2013 Summit under the National Pavilion of India which is supported by CII.
Mr El Haddad said the renewable energy potential of India is enormous. “According to recent figures from The Energy and Resources Institute, it is estimated that 748.77GW of energy will be generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. WFES represents a fantastic platform for Indian businesses to source products and forge partnerships”
Mr Mana S. Sultan Al Suwaidi, Commercial Attaché of UAE to India, in his speech ‘UAE Cultivating The Pathway Towards Sustainable Energy’, supported Dr Kapur’s call, and highlighted the growing economic relations between India and United Arab Emirates.
“Energy forms the cornerstone of this bilateral trade and investment partnership. UAE is India’s second largest trading partner with bilateral trade valued at US$ 71.58 billion for the year 2011-12.”
“Over the years, the innovation driven development has helped UAE harness alternative and clean forms of energy. The UAE has become Middle East’s second largest energy investor with its potential capital in the sector totalling around $74 billion during 2011-2015. Along the pathway towards sustainable energy, UAE has opened numerous lucrative investment opportunities for international investors,” said Mr Al Suwadi.
The World Future Energy Summit, hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company, is the world’s foremost annual event, dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies. It is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The 2013 World Future Energy Summit will be the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week from 13 to 17 January 2013, which will also feature the inaugural International Water Summit, biennial International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC), being held for the first time in Abu Dhabi, and the 3rd session of the Assembly of IRENA.
