Interview to Roque Gistau, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Smagua

Roque Gistau, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hall and Chairman of Expoagua Zaragoza 2008, the company responsible for carry out the project of the exhibition, explains the importance of Smagua for the sector in the following interview and highlights the relations and synergies between the veteran event and Expo 2008

There are several factors that contribute to the good results that harvest the Hall since practically its inception, including the very dynamism of the sectors containing the sample; However, I believe that the high technological level of their proposals and their degree of internationalization have been the best amplifier between the companies themselves of the benefits of Smagua as a business tool, which has placed the event in leading position in their specialty and fair at the international level.

We anticipate that it will exceed 17 per cent of the growth of business participation that recorded the previous call and which then already surpassed all expectations. The current strength of the industry of the water and the environment will contribute without doubt to the fair, although already fully consolidated, again to experience strong increases in all its parameters in the next edition.

One could speak of their seniority, experience, solvency and credibility among the actors involved, both companies, as professionals and institutions. Its privileged geographic location added to all this, the provision of transport infrastructure and the full range of services that facilitates participation to visitors and exhibitors, have given large Smagua differential values in the international trade fair panorama.

Think about that, of the planned investments, 40 percent will go to the Expo site. The rest will be devoted to accompanying measures, some of which, as the improvement of banks of the rivers Ebro and Gállego, they have a strong environmental component. In addition, improved transport infrastructure, both by road and by rail, improved access, more hotel rooms and, in general, better services and facilities, which will promote economic activity and trade fair centre of Zaragoza. But the contest will not only benefit from new infrastructures. The international promotion of the Expo, with all eyes in Zaragoza, who aspires to become the world capital of the water and permanent focus of dissemination of the new proposals of water management, will also mean strong support and momentum for this industry andas a result, in Smagua, as space for the launch of solutions and technological innovations for the integral management of the resource.

Since the beginning of the project, the candidacy for the exhibition was the unconditional support from Feria de Zaragoza and Smagua, who presented the project to different professional groups within the sector and continues to carry out a constant work of promotion of the exhibitionthat it will be continued in this edition.

You could say that the diffusion of innovation in the field of water management is the thread of the synergies between both events, although these do not coincide in time. The 2008 Expo proposal goes full of innovation, both in its conception and in its content, and will show the best experiences carried out around the world, while Smagua is an international reference for professionals who develop and seeking the latest technologies in this field.

Water is a scarce, whose use must optimize to maximize. There to convey that message, and that is one of the ideological tasks of the exhibition: from awareness-raising and we intend to do so in an innovative, educational, emotional and aesthetic way. From the point of view of the contribution of Smagua and despite the professional nature of the show, its dissemination in the media and the dynamic effect on the companies in the sector contribute to also move the springs needed to ensure that we move more and more efficient and sustainable management of wateran issue that ultimately affects us all.

"Water is a scarce, whose use must optimize to maximize"

All hydrological planning which pursues sustainable water management must be based on a model of growth that is aimed at the respect for the natural resource. In our country, the improvement of efficiency in all uses of the water is priority and, within this, greater efforts should be directed to the modernization of irrigation systems, as 93 percent of consumption is done the agricultural use. Other points to improve may be the proper management of the demand from the savings and the revision of the competence models in the management of the supply.

We have 75 percent of the projects started, the general project of the sample works will begin in the last quarter of this year and we are still meeting deadlines.

With regard to the recruitment of participants, initial host to 67 countries forecasts are beginning to be overwhelmed, by the interest and attraction already raised by the exhibition, while the official campaign began in January, following their registration at the end of the year. We are three years of intensive work, undoubtedly, will lead to the Expo Zaragoza to be a full success and an unforgettable event.

I think that in the next few years the business will be insured for the industry of the water and the environment. The participation of companies in the sector at the Salon means become actors in a market in full growth, which annually increase investment and where there are strong business opportunities. Smagua guarantees an important internationally, secures valuable business contacts and is a work tool that should not miss those seeking to grow good pace in the industry.