ABU DHABI, 20 April, 05 (WAM) - Demand for bottled water hasincreased substantially over recent years and as of now the UAEleads the world in per capita consumption of this category ofdrinking water.
With its experience in meeting such a huge domestic demand,the UAE would be the venue for a global gathering aimed to addressdemand and supply concerns in the bottled water industry worldover, according to 'The Gulf Today.' The second "Global Bottled Water Congress" would be held fromSept 20 to Sept 22 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
Hosted by Masafi, one of the region's leading producers of bottleddrinking water, the congress would be the first-ever internationalevent on the bottled water industry to be held in the MiddleEast.
Over 100 delegates from 30 countries are expected to attendthe event, which would be held under the theme 'Meeting GlobalDemands.' "In 2004, $50,000 million (Dhs182,500 million) worthof bottled water was sold world over indicating a total volumeof 150,000 million litres in sales and a growth of 50 per centin the last five years. The Middle East alone accounted for $1,700million worth of bottled water consumption in 2004," RichardHall, chairman of Zenith International, the organiser of theDubai Congress as well as the first congress held in Evian (France)last year, told a press conference in Dubai on Tuesday.
He said that the decision to hold the second congress in theUAE has special significance. "The UAE has the highest per capitaconsumption (265 litres per year) of bottled water. Italy comessecond and France, which is third in the table has a per capitaconsumption of 147 litres only," he added. The high consumptionrate in the UAE is due to many factors including the increasein tourist arrivals, economic prosperity as well as the presenceof excellent local brands of bottled water, he explained.
Hall said that the venue of the second congress would also challengethe prevailing notion of the region being associated with ariddeserts and scarcity of water.
Participants at the congress will comprise directors and seniormanagement representing bottled water producers as well as suppliers.
Industry experts will assess best practices to address demandand supply concerns and deliberate crucial issues pertainingto challenges that the bottled water industry faces.
"One of the key issues will be the post-tsunami scenario andthe increase in demand for bottled water in the areas of Asiaaffected by the killer waves,' Hall said.
The event will also witness the prestigious "2005 Bottled waterworlddesign" awards that is wholly devoted to water packaging andmarketing innovation.
Masafi general manager Ashraf Abushady said that the congresswould provide a great opportunity for the company to reach outto a wider and international market. "We have a market shareof 50 per cent already and with the congress we would move furthertowards markets abroad," he added.
The innovations of the mineral bottled water industry in theMiddle East was the focus of a speech delivered by Abushady atthe inaugural 2004 Congress, which was based on the theme, 'BottledWater - Source of Well Being.' Among the many sessions and programmeslined up for the delegates at this year's congress is a specialtour of the Masafi plant in Ras Al Khaimah.
