The OZWATER Trade Fair is organised annually by the local water association, the Australian Water Association, which will soon celebrate its 60th anniversary. This year's event took place after a short break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and was attended by nearly 250 exhibiting companies from around the world. Most of course came from Australia and New Zealand, but there was also a strong representation from the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Israel and Japan. Only the Czech Republic and the Water Association of Singapore had a national pavilion. Nearly four thousand visitors attended the fair, mainly from the circle of professionals in the field.

 

Companies presented themselves on the exhibition floor and had the opportunity to discuss with experts from all over the world the pressing issues of the day during the expert forum, workshops and panel discussions. "United by Water" was the central theme of this year's event, and experts focused on the following topics: the shortage of industry professionals, the growing scarcity of water resources and their security, the impact of climate change on water management, and water recycling and reuse. A separate session, with the backings of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was devoted to drinking water scarcity in developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region, which was attended by representatives from ADB and associations from developing countries (Cambodia, Vietnam, Tonga, Indonesia).

 

Czech companies presented truly unique products within their 18 m² area. The Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) and its University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings (UCEEB) developed and physically presented at the fair an “EWA” (Emergency Water from Air) device that produces enough water even in the desert to survive a group of people or to grow vegetables. A larger similar device called “SAWER” was presented at Expo Dubai. Representatives from CTU and the manufacturing company Karbox arrived in Australia ahead of schedule to test the EWA device in arid areas in the interior of the continent, and the international testing facility SGS is already testing the water produced on the ground. In addition, the EWA has half the energy consumption per litre of water produced than competing equipment from the US, which is already being tested in Australia.

 

Another technical device, a desalination unit for households, was presented by Separionics. Its products find a wide range of applications from households to industrial enterprises. The company took part in the last edition of the fair in 2019, where it established cooperation with a local representative who took part in the Czech stand. VAPO showcased its rubber gaskets and bags, which it is already exporting in limited quantities to Australia and is looking for more customers.

 

Czech companies have had dozens of more serious discussions with potential partners from Australia and other countries, about half of which have the potential for further discussions that should lead to commercial supply. Inland Australia is struggling with a growing scarcity and, in particular, the price of drinking water. Therefore, the Czech technologies presented at OZWATER'23 have the potential to be commercially successful here. 

 

Video sequences from the Czech participation at the fair: Click here for the video
 

Milan Vágner, Economic Diplomat

Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra