Water Expo China + Water Membrane China broke its previous record for exhibitor and visitor attendance when it was held Oct. 29-31 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

 A new record of 398 exhibitors, from 21 countries and regions, a 21-percent increase, compared last year, including national groups and pavilions from Austria, Germany, Korea and Taiwan region, was set at this year’s 22,000 square meters show.

The visitor number was 23,816 from 36 countries and regions, boosted by 50 domestic and international delegations, which was a 29-percent increase, compared with 2011. Domestic visitors numbered 20,671 and overseas visitors numbered 3,145.

 The three-day show was organized by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society and the Membrane Industry Association of China.

China’s first water business event is approved by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology and sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources.

“An increasing number of domestic and international exhibitors are seeing many business opportunities arising from the Chinese government’s commitment to water improvement, and that these opportunities can be explored further at Water Expo China + Water Membrane China by meeting key government decision makers,” said Jason Cao, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

He added, “This is one of the reasons why our exhibitor numbers continue to increase each year.”

This year’s show continued to attract exhibitors who had experienced business success at previous shows, according to organizers.

Tan Zhengning, marketing manager for Chinese company Beijing Tengine Innovation Instruments Co Ltd, a measuring instruments company, said of the show: “We always exhibit here because it is an industry recognised show. The scale is big, and the organiser is professional. We want to build brand awareness at the show, since the company is still relatively new to the industry. We are satisfied with the show and will exhibit here again next year.”

Also participating at Water Expo China + Water Membrane China were national groups and pavilions from Austria, Germany, Korea and Taiwan region.

Companies taking part in the Austrian Pavilion were Andriz (China) Ltd, Anton Paar China, Röhren- und Pumpenwerk BAUER Gesellschaftm.b.H. and s::can Messtechnik GmbH.

The Bavarian Pavilion from Germany was organized for the first time by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology, in cooperation with BAYERN INTERNATIONAL – Bavarian Bureau for International Business Relations and BIHK - Association of the Bavarian Chambers of Industry and Commerce. Participating companies were AKW A+V Protec GmbH, atex Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co KG, Grünbeck Wasseraufbereitung GmbH, Jäger Umwelt-Technik GmbH & Co KG and Sikotec GmbH.

This year’s show attracted more than 50 domestic and international visitor delegations. Chinese visitor Chen Weiwen, deputy general manager of Beijing Filcore Membrane Technologies Co Ltd, said, “I am visiting to see new technology and I found more than I expected. This show can definitely help the industry and it groups industry people together so we have the chance to network. The show is growing bigger and is high quality.”

Running concurrently with Water Expo China + Water Membrane China was the 7th China International Water Business Summit attended by a capacity audience who listened to domestic and international experts address the challenges ahead for China’s water industry.